Sam Wright (Australian footballer)

Samuel Wright (born 15 July 1990 ) is a former Australian rules footballer and the current senior coach of in the AFL Women's competition. Wright played 136 games for the North Melbourne Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL), and was a welfare and development coordinator at The Australian Ballet.

AFL career
Wright was drafted by North Melbourne with the 27th overall selection of the 2008 AFL Draft from the Murray Bushrangers. He made his debut on 16 May 2009 against Geelong, and received a Rising Star nomination in round 21, 2010.

Wright's career was disrupted in 2016 and 2017 by a series of sesamoid bone fractures in his foot and ankle, and two ruptured ligaments, requiring five ankle surgeries. Wright turned to ballet for physical therapy, guided by Sue Mayes, the principal physiotherapist with The Australian Ballet. Wright returned on 5 May 2018 for a two-point win over, collecting 18 possessions and seven marks in his first AFL game in 701 days.

On 3 October 2018, Wright signed a contract for his eleventh season with North Melbourne.

Following another ankle injury, Wright announced his retirement on 30 July 2019. Wright joined The Australian Ballet as the Dancer Welfare & Development Coordinator.

In December 2023, Wright was appointed coach of for the 2024 AFL Women's season.