DOB: 22 May 1956
Debut: Round 3, 1974 against Geelong at MCG
Last Game: Round 6, 1985 against North Melbourne at MCG
From: Bentleigh-McKinnon Youth Club/Ormond
Number: 35 (1974-1983), 1 (1984-1985)
Honours
Best and Fairest - 1981
150 Heroes selection
Life Member - 1984
Games: 203
Goals: 144
Career Statistics
Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
62 | 0 | 141 | 30.54 |
Statistical categories led:
Most games in jumper 35
Most goals in jumper 35
The first player to graduate from the 'Little League' junior competition to the VFL, Smith immediately made an impression in the 17 games of his rookie season. He predominantly played as a defender, but had a number of stints in the forward line.
In 1979 he missed several games with stress fractures of the foot, then injured a hamstring in the final practice match of 1980 and lost a further five weeks. It was the latest in a line of recurring hamstring injuries that had troubled him since 1978. In 1983 Smith played in a helmet due to injury.
He turned back an offer to join St Kilda for 1984 and was rewarded with the vice-captaincy. That year he was picked to play for Victoria before being struck down by Appendicitis. In 1985 Smith was kept to four games by injury, just as he was ready to return from a groin complaint his foot was broken by a teammate stepping on it in a training mishap and he was further restricted.
Smith never played a final, playing the fourth most games of anyone in that category. He flagged his intention to retire due to work commitments before the 1985 season, and despite rumours that he would join Essendon in 1986 he stayed out of the game.
During his time as a player Smith practiced law, and was admitted to the Supreme Court as a barrister in 1979. In retirement he served as a director of the club until the end of 1992 and as an MCC committeeman. In 2015 he began a four year term as Melbourne Cricket Club President.
Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
1974 | 17 | 12 | 0 |
1975 | 22 | 24 | 0 |
1976 | 19 | 33 | 5 |
1977 | 11 | 10 | 0 |
1978 | 22 | 17 | 0 |
1979 | 16 | 15 | 3 |
1980 | 16 | 24 | 3 |
1981 | 22 | 2 | 3 |
1982 | 18 | 1 | 0 |
1983 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
1984 | 19 | 6 | 0 |
1985 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Video
Media
Inside Football - 05/06/1980
Inside Football - 08/03/1984
Inside Football - 07/03/1985
Inside Football - 28/03/1985
Inside Football - 04/07/1985
Inside Football - 13/03/1986
Age - 18/12/1992