Broome’s Bailey Banfield aiming to play every game in 2020

When it comes to the highs and lows of playing AFL football, Broome’s Bailey Banfield has experienced them all. The young Fremantle Dockers midfielder was overlooked by every single club in two national drafts before finally being picked up as a rookie by the WA side in 2018 and managed to play 20 games in his debut season, earning him a reputation as the league’s ultimate underdog. But 2019 was not an ideal year for the 21-year-old, who only managed to run out in the purple guernsey seven times, instead impressing in the WAFL, where he bagged Peel Thunder’s best and fairest medal. Banfield told the Broome Advertiser he was focused on keeping his spot in the senior side this season and had his sights set on one simple goal — playing every single game. “This year I want to play every game, that’s the goal if the body holds up that form” he said. “I want to cement my spot in the side, play the best footy that I can, and help the team win as many games as we can,” he said. The former Broome Primary School student and Broome Bulls junior said his pre-season was off to a good start and he was looking forward to getting out on the ground. “Pre-season has been good, my body has been strong,” Banfield said. “I’ve been able to complete every session so far this year and that’s often half the battle. “I’m ready for the pre-season games to start and definitely ready for those. Hopefully I will play well in them and then I will go from there.” Banfield was one of 20 Dockers who travelled North for the side’s community camp earlier this month, returning home to Broome for two days to meet fans and hold children’s skill clinics. The young gun is the son of Willie Creek Pearls owners Robert and Debbie Banfield, who moved to Perth after Bailey made the shift for school at age 15. Fremantle will kick their season off on March 21 when they face Essendon in at Marvel Stadium.