Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Michael Damion Smith

Known as
Michael Smith

Born
28 April 1959 (age 64)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 18y 37d
Last game: 21y 348d

Height and weight
Height: 191 cm
Weight: 88 kg

Senior clubs
South Melbourne; West Adelaide

Jumper numbers
South Melbourne: 49, 28

Recruited from
Sydney (1982)

Family links
Stan Smith (Father)Jim McShane (Great grandfather)

Michael Smith

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
South MelbourneV/AFL1977-198132431.3438%7.132.592.810
West AdelaideSANFL1982-1986851822.14—————
Total1977-19861172251.92—————

AFL: 8,918th player to appear, 5,391st most games played, 2,302nd most goals kickedSouth Melbourne: 1,052nd player to appear, 457th most games played, 181st most goals kicked

Quite tall at 191cm but of comparatively slim build at 88kg Michael Smith joined South Melbourne from South Districts and made his senior VFL debut in round 10 1977 against Collingwood. It proved to be an excellent start to his career as he booted five goals. However, he only played once more for the season.

A centre half forward or half forward flanker, Smith produced some good football but found it hard to cement his place in South’s team. From 1977 to 1981 he played 32 VFL games and scored 43 goals. The 1982 season found him at West Adelaide where he did well. Over the course of a five season stint with the Bloods he played 85 SANFL games and kicked 182 goals. He was on a half forward flank, and scored one goal, in the 1983 grand final, which saw Westies score a 21.16 to 16.12 defeat of Sturt.

Michael Smith’s father Stan and great grandfather Jim McShane both played in the VFL.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Publications

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Footnotes

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