Player Watch #16 Josh Smillie - Updated TBC

[KrispyKreme]

I know this board loves to lean in to the injury gags and taking the pi55 out of the whole situation but you gotta feel for the bloke.

You gotta get behind him, now more than ever because he is one hell of a player and I'm sure he will show it when he gets his opportunity.

I can't wait to hear the crowd roar when he takes to the field for the first time in the AFL and gets his first of many disposals.

I know it's a big ask but I'd love to see good vibes in this thread moving forward because I'd hate to learn that he found himself on here at any given time and has to read some of the crap that is said about him and what he has gone through.

I have already mentioned earlier he wasn’t dealing with it too well. Mind you I haven’t seen bad comments here but my god Facebook was horrendous with comments.

 

[prodigy]

I have already mentioned earlier he wasn’t dealing with it too well. Mind you I haven’t seen bad comments here but my god Facebook was horrendous with comments.

Yeah I shudder to think.
I hope he stays off of social media but let's be honest, no kid his age would be.

 

[SMILLIE]

Yep facebook and instagram comments were writing him off after the latest setback. Would've been demoralising reading for a kid

 

[Mr Unbelievable]

correct me if im wrong but he said he was looking forward to the next two-three month recovery period. I presume he mis-spoke

 

[lalorGOAT]

2027 rising star winner

 

[tigs2010]

Yep facebook and instagram comments were writing him off after the latest setback. Would've been demoralising reading for a kid

He should know he will be a star if facebook writing him off

 

[Muddiemoose]

I have already mentioned earlier he wasn’t dealing with it too well. Mind you I haven’t seen bad comments here but my god Facebook was horrendous with comments.

Hopefully the club invests in helping him get some strategies to help deal with that kind of thing

Social media can be toxic to the best of us and being a high profile sportsman will only magnify the issue and it’s something that will only get worse throughout his career

 

[DickieKnee]

Let's hope the social media trolls aren't getting to him too much. It would be frustrating enough dealing with the injuries he's had since being drafted.

 

[The Vaucluse]

The young man has heaps of talent and I look forward to seeing him wear the sash.

Clearly the experience has knocked him around. Let’s hope the experience makes him strong and resilient.

I congratulate the club for putting the piece together. It’s great that they are giving us an insight into the inner workings.

 

[biaseddustyfan]

If you guys don't see it that way that's fine, but I'd ask you to at least pay attention to these words and imagine if this was a friend or relative of yours trying to start their dream career: 'I think people forget that with all these sort of issues that have happened with my body, I'm the one that sort of cops it the most. I'm the one that wants to play.'

I'll go back to not posting around here

if you're gonna defend anyone it should be Serpell. 90% of posters are happy with Smillie and have never said anything negative about the kid, just been disappointed to the point of making a joke of how grim it is. lot of shit has been talked on Serpell though lol

 

[beema limapep]

I'll go back to not posting around here

Thank you. You have quantified your own value.

 

[beema limapep]

Just put a line through him until Feb 2027. As a minimum.

I don't like it. And heads should be up for rolling if our overall injury toll gets one mm worse. But the narrative and lack of transparency from the club has been too hit and miss.

We all know it. We have all lost faith except the mods and a small contingent of mercenaries like SMILLIE and sante who insist he is possibly on track but don't know anymore than us.

 

[RJK Tiger]

Josh looks like he has not been having a lot of fun. He did well to work through that interview, but he was definitely "getting through it" Vs excited to have a chat. I think we all loved seeing rookie Higgins & Stack just lapping up any chance for attention - Josh seemed like he had the weight of the world on him.

His body & conditioning situation is very hard to read. He seemed exhausted , frustrated - its hard to get a gauge of if he is upset with his own body letting him down when he most needs it - or, frustrated at how his injuries have been handled and only now feels like they are getting a gauge of whats happening.

You look at the photo above of him as a 1st day rookie Vs now - the body language difference says alot, you can see a drop in confidence. And who wouldn't - absolute nightmare start to his career. An interesting point is he twice willingly talks about putting more work into being a better person off the field too - and dare say its not just his body that has had a rough time adjusting.

The Smillie situation is odd & really hard to know the true story - but there is something "more" to it than we are being told.
None of this reflects on Josh though. I think all the supporters are behind him. There are times we talk very bluntly about a players situation ie. We need to put a line through the 2 Josh's as there is a realistic chance that both might never get a good enough run at it to reach their potentials. But we speak like that as we are not writing it to be considered - we are trying to make another point and i dont think every post needs to be HR approved. To me, its a basic given than EVERYONE here with the Tiger Supporter tag wants the club to do excellent & all the players have the best experience possible.

Samson Ryan might be a player i am more frustrated with than any other in a long time, but i genuinelly would love nothing more than him just get off the chain this year and become the shining light. I love nothing more than a good sport story. Why i had less concerns taking on JUH than most. Being a young player is not a easy gig for a lot of kids in the social media era.

Baed on Joshs own words, it sounds like his goal for 2026 is as dumbed down to "just play a game" at some point, without re-injury or another shitshow

 

[RJK Tiger]

Just put a line through him until Feb 2027. As a minimum.

I don't like it. And heads should be up for rolling if our overall injury toll gets one mm worse. But the narrative and lack of transparency from the club has been too hit and miss.

We all know it. We have all lost faith except the mods and a small contingent of mercenaries like SMILLIE and sante who insist he is possibly on track but don't know anymore than us.

It does feel like someone has dropped the ball with Josh - but its not clear "who". Josh himself seemed to acknowledge he needed to work on being a better person off the field too. It was a brave & good move for the club and him to get him out there answering every question we are all asking. The answers still were quite foggy though.

 

[wegetpumped]

Look it's not all doom and gloom with him. Lets face it most of the ones in the package he came in aren't much ahead of him

 

[wegetpumped]

Yep facebook and instagram comments were writing him off after the latest setback. Would've been demoralising reading for a kid

 

[bryan wood]

Just put a line through him until Feb 2027. As a minimum.

I don't like it. And heads should be up for rolling if our overall injury toll gets one mm worse. But the narrative and lack of transparency from the club has been too hit and miss.

We all know it. We have all lost faith except the mods and a small contingent of mercenaries like SMILLIE and sante who insist he is possibly on track but don't know anymore than us.

Don’t speak for the rest of us mate …

I would say the vocal minority have lost faith … I won’t speak for the silent majority … but I can bet you the punters that are at the G every week support the club day in day out

It’s much easier to bag and moan then to be patient and supportive

But you be you

 

[beema limapep]

Don’t speak for the rest of us mate …

I would say the vocal minority have lost faith … I won’t speak for the silent majority … but I can bet you the punters that are at the G every week support the club day in day out

It’s much easier to bag and moan then to be patient and supportive

But you be you

Brian Wood hey. Go back to Essendon and running for West Coast. You aren't at the G every week.

 

[tropicaltiger]

I got a stirring in my loins when I saw some interview or clip and noticed he was quite a bit taller than Jack Riewoldt.

 

[Roachy8]

It was nice to hear from Josh
Could end up being one of the better recent AFL stories when he gets healthy, fit and comes good.

I’m backing him in!

 

[partycorolla]

I have already mentioned earlier he wasn’t dealing with it too well. Mind you I haven’t seen bad comments here but my god Facebook was horrendous with comments.

Facebook has a lot of non genuine supporters, plus all the losers from other clubs throwing their moronic takes in.

 

[bryan wood]

Brian Wood hey. Go back to Essendon and running for West Coast. You aren't at the G every week

Without google how many premierships did he win and what year was wood captain

You should address what I wrote

But you choose to have a go at a past legend of the club without addressing what I wrote

I would not expect anything less of you

And you know nothing about me … don’t tell me I’m not at the G every week

But I can bet you are not … you sound like a paper bag supporter to me

Anyway whine away … I can tell you it’s no good for your health … be a bit more positive … be happier … it will take you a long way

 

[beema limapep]

Without google how many premierships did he win and what year was wood captain

You should address what I wrote

But you choose to have a go at a past legend of the club without addressing what I wrote

I would not expect anything less of you

And you know nothing about me … don’t tell me I’m not at the G every week

But I can bet you are not … you sound like a paper bag supporter to me

Anyway whine away … I can tell you it’s no good for your health … be a bit more positive … be happier … it will take you a long way

Sum of nothing. Thanks for your input

 

[kozi]

Over/under line for posts in this thread before he plays his first game?

I’m going 10k

 

[captain cotch 9]

I think if a current afl player isn’t copying due to old farts on Facebook sooking, the club isn’t doing a good enough job educating them.
Social media is for weirdos imo.