Australian Football

AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game

 

Key Facts

Full name
Robert Smith

Known as
Rob Smith

Born
26 May 1951

Died
24 May 2013 (aged 61)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 19y 312d
Last game: 26y 100d

Height and weight
Height: 191 cm
Weight: 84 kg

Senior clubs
North Melbourne; Coburg

Jumper numbers
North Melbourne: 26

Rob Smith

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
North MelbourneV/AFL1971-197748481.0044%7.002.023.586
CoburgVFA1978-1982602694.48—————
Total1971-19821083172.94—————

AFL: 8,327th player to appear, 4,420th most games played, 2,120th most goals kickedNorth Melbourne: 633rd player to appear, 287th most games played, 137th most goals kicked

Rob Smith played his early football with Ainslie in the ACTAFL but when he moved to Melbourne in 1970 to do a chartered accountants course he was recruited by North Melbourne. A forward, he struggled to claim a regular place in the seniors, but normally did well when selected. He kicked a career high tally of six goals in a win over Melbourne in 1976. From 1971 to 1977 he played 48 VFL games for North and kicked an identical number of goals.

After leaving the Kangaroos Smith joined VFA first division side Coburg where he played in a premiership side in 1979, contributing three goals from full forward to a 16.15 to 14.19 grand final defeat of Geelong West. He also played in the club’s losing grand final side the following year against Port Melbourne. In all, he made 60 senior appearances for the Lions from 1978 to 1982, scoring 269 goals.

Author - John Devaney

Sources

Full Points Publications

Related Articles

Footnotes

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