Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Les Smith

Known as
Les Smith

Born
28 May 1900

Died
12 January 1975 (aged 74)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 21y 112d
Last game: 29y 88d

Height and weight
Height: 173 cm
Weight: 72 kg

Senior clubs
Geelong

Jumper numbers
Geelong: 16

Les Smith

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
GeelongV/AFL1921-1929123170.1459%———0
Total1921-1929123170.1459%———0

AFL: 2,678th player to appear, 1,831st most games played, 3,991st most goals kickedGeelong: 286th player to appear, 119th most games played, 326th most goals kicked

Evincing a rare combination of blistering pace and remarkable steadiness and assurance, Les Smith gave consistently useful service to Geelong in 123 VFL games, during which he kicked 17 goals, between 1921 and 1929. The air of authority he tended to exude led to his being given the nickname 'Guv'. He arrived at Corio Oval from local club Newtown, and was used mainly as a wingman or rover initially, before finding his true niche in the back pocket, which was where he lined up in the victorious Challenge Final of 1925 against Collingwood.

Late in his career he developed a fine understanding with arguably the Cats' greatest ever full back in George 'Jocka' Todd. Smith's decision making was first rate, and he was regarded as one of the hardest defenders to obtain kicks against in the VFL.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.