Opinion Ashley Smith

[Prem87]

Smith's main strengths: Big Kick and Pace.

He was one of the fastest ever at the draft camp and had a 10.80sec PB in the 100m. He hasn't shown any of his pace at all at AFL level and I'd pressume at WAFL level. When was the last time Smith pro-actively stormed off the HB line - ala Yeo.

He's got a huge kick on him, but he either just kicks long with hope or is inaccurate. This is the last thing you want coming out of your backline.

Add to the fact that he shows no football smarts, plays like he's a step or two behind the play in his head, takes too long to make a decision, fumbles quite often, seems to lack drive and aggression and hasn't improved at all since he's come to the club - it just doesn't bode well for him. I was a big fan when he came to the club but my hopes for him to step up have waned.

Smith is now just wasting space on our list and I would rather we kept McGinnity than him. Unless he completely turns things around this year he'll be delisted IMO. Alec Waterman will be a nice upgrade.

 

[UpForGrabs]

Here's where I don't understand some of the postings here.

"He'd dominate if given a regular game"

Yes, that's all well and good, but why the hell should someone just be given regular games? If the Match Committee have their reasons for dropping a player, then they should drop him.

Screw giving players time to develop. We're not the same team we were in 2008. Games shouldn't be gifted (yes, I know other players were gifted games), they should be earned. Players who feel slighted should grasp their opportunity in the side. Don't want to be dropped? Fine - force the MC to drop someone else instead, and if you get dropped don't sulk (which Smith has done when sent back to Perth). Play your ass off and force the MC to pick you again.

Rinse and repeat.

 

[Maxxyb]

What does that one mean Harry? It's not the ejaculation thing again is it"

Are you embarrassed? Should I be embarrassed? Where's that Dargie fellow when you need him? He spells things out in clear language that everyone can understand.

 

[WCFaithful]

People do realise that his hair has nothing to do with how he plays, right?

so it's a coincidence that both are shit then?

 

[WCFaithful]

Smith's main strengths: Big Kick and Pace.

He was one of the fastest ever at the draft camp and had a 10.80sec PB in the 100m. He hasn't shown any of his pace at all at AFL level and I'd pressume at WAFL level. When was the last time Smith pro-actively stormed off the HB line - ala Yeo.

He's got a huge kick on him, but he either just kicks long with hope or is inaccurate. This is the last thing you want coming out of your backline.

Add to the fact that he shows no football smarts, plays like he's a step or two behind the play in his head, takes too long to make a decision, fumbles quite often, seems to lack drive and aggression and hasn't improved at all since he's come to the club - it just doesn't bode well for him. I was a big fan when he came to the club but my hopes for him to step up have waned.

Smith is now just wasting space on our list and I would rather we kept McGinnity than him. Unless he completely turns things around this year he'll be delisted IMO. Alec Waterman will be a nice upgrade.

took the words straight from my fingertips
well summed up.

 

[Double the Fist]

That speed everyone speaks of seems to elude him when chasing the man or the ball

Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk

He doesn't 'like' to tackle, has no mongrel either.

 

[Maxxyb]

It would appear that the the jury is in.

Apologies for the flippant "how he looks" comment, but for the life of me, I can't work out how he has stayed on our list. We possibly identified that a bit of run and carry off half back wouldn't hurt and that kicking a drop punt with backspin generally goes a bit better than our patented helicopter, but Frankenfurter me, I'm not convinced Ash brings any of that to the table.

I really hope they know something I don't.

 

[Carbine Chaos]

Prove them all wrong, Ash.

 

[Byron_Clanger]

Also, is Will Schofield injured? I'd be more worried if I was him if he doesn't have an injury and didn't get picked to play last week

 

[jaxxon]

He is a very good defender 1 on 1, can play tall or small effectively and has excellent closing speed. He usually kicks very well...though he needs to take a few steps when kicking from a mark or free kick, its when he kicks off one or no steps he has trouble. His running style means he doesn't look quick, but he is quick. I'd have him in the best 25 I think (just couldn't name the best 25).

 

[PRANKSTER666]

Crab.

 

[Jimmy_the_Gent]

Also, is Will Schofield injured? I'd be more worried if I was him if he doesn't have an injury and didn't get picked to play last week

Hamstring injury late January means he's probably a little behind the others with training and thus was left out.

 

[the harry]

It would appear that the the jury is in.

Apologies for the flippant "how he looks" comment, but for the life of me, I can't work out how he has stayed on our list. We possibly identified that a bit of run and carry off half back wouldn't hurt and that kicking a drop punt with backspin generally goes a bit better than our patented helicopter, but Frankenfurter me, I'm not convinced Ash brings any of that to the table.

I really hope they know something I don't.

His upside is 10x what we would get in a trade and we've been carrying plenty enough guys with no upside in recent times.

 

[Maxxyb]

What, 10 x 0. Oh I see - you are the smart one!

Thorne, I really hope he does prove me wrong.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Needs to start dominating in the WAFL before he is anywhere near getting a game for the senior side.

Which he did last year for the most part.

Got high up the ground, cut through opposition zones with his speed and put the ball deep inside 50.

Was comparatively better than others at WAFL level like Brown, Shofield, Carter, Bennell.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Kinda says something when Smith has not once been mentioned in our best players for a game throughout his entire career. Not that i can recall anyway.

Kicked 2 goals in that carlton game in 2011 in what most people say was his best performance.. wowee, still wasn't in our best players for that game.

Stick to hairdressing son.

Smiths 2011 was probably better than Yeo's 2013.

Smith cops criticism for not providing enough run and carry. But Yeo has the exact same shortfall at the moment.

He was hamstrung in 2012 with injuries but was solid for the most part and had to deal with a totally dysfunctional side last year.

The criticisms levelled at Smith aren't equally shared by others. Waters blew smoke all year, was pasted by Walters in round one when he kicked two goals on him early in the game. But that was washed over by Smiths performance late in the game after the damage was done.

Game vs Bulldogs Smith did his defensive work pretty well. But copped criticism on this board when he failed to cover for Carters poor checking, didn't attack the flight of the ball when Carter kicked the ball over his head and copped it for not chasing hard enough when he was turned inside out 10m from the play and had an opponent between him and the ball. These are absurd criticisms.

He had plenty of poor moments in 2013. It was his worst season since his debut season. But the standards applied to him are just rubbish.

 

[WCFaithful]

I'm happy to be proven wrong with any of our players I have doubts about as well as the ones I believe in but so far Smith hasn't exactly raised my eyebrows (in a good way). Maybe Simmo can get him to pull his finger out and show some ticker, who knows.. time will tell and I'm willing to give him a chance to prove me wrong. At this stage I'd put him and Brown on notice. Step it up in 2014 or gtfo and stick to the WAFL.

 

[Dark Sharks]

Smiths 2011 was probably better than Yeo's 2013.

Smith cops criticism for not providing enough run and carry. But Yeo has the exact same shortfall at the moment.

He was hamstrung in 2012 with injuries but was solid for the most part and had to deal with a totally dysfunctional side last year..

Surely that is incorrect. I'm sure you've seen Yeo's highlight packages from 2012 and 2013. He does nothing else BUT take the game on.

You would be hard pressed to find 3 occasions throughout Smiths entire what... 5 year AFL career? Where he has taken the game on like Yeo does constantly in those videos as a 1st and 2nd year player.

Meanwhile Yeo is only just now hitting his 3rd year and looks miles ahead. Even down at the game at Joondy he was doing it, it's a joy to watch.

I'm sozzle brozzle, but i've waited for 5 years for smith to do something with his pace, but maybe it can't be taught. He simply refuses to do it. Endo story.

 

[the harry]

What, 10 x 0. Oh I see - you are the smart one!

Thorne, I really hope he does prove me wrong.

We got a pick for McKinley, we'd get one for Smith.

 

[Keys]

We got a pick for McKinley, we'd get one for Smith.

Which was as useful as celibacy poster in a brothel

 

[beatlesmith]

Decent player. Has strung good footy together before but 2011 was quite a while ago.

Generally a good 1v1 defender (on anyone from tricky crumbing types to marking medium forwards), although he sometimes has the habit of overcommitting to spoil and getting turned inside out if he misses, or being late to catch onto where his forward is going.

Kicking is a mixed bag. As has been mentioned gets caught doing lazy, stationary kicks, as well as hoofing it long to no-one in particular. Otherwise generally clean. A better kick than Brennan or McGinnity, but behind what Wilson and Butler bring to the table in that area.

Doesn't charge from the backline enough to utilise his pace, rarely throws himself into the contest, preferring to mark his man, and has a laconic style that makes it look like he isn't trying. These things, along with his taste in tattoos and hairstyles are why people shit on Smith, but love the way Brennan "goes about it", when in terms of exposed form and potential Smith is clearly ahead.

With his size and athleticism he's a great canvas, and definitely our best shutdown small/medium defender if he plays to his ability. Just needs to iron out lapses in concentration and decision making, as well as being more aggressive the other way, but we've been saying that for a while now.

If he doesn't improve, I see more utility in Butler for the short term, and giving games to Carter in the long term. His solid but unspectacular 2011 form can only keep him around so long, so if he doesn't add to it I'd throw him on the pile of average backmen that need to be moved on at the end of the season.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Surely that is incorrect. I'm sure you've seen Yeo's highlight packages from 2012 and 2013. He does nothing else BUT take the game on.

You would be hard pressed to find 3 occasions throughout Smiths entire what... 5 year AFL career? Where he has taken the game on like Yeo does constantly in those videos as a 1st and 2nd year player.

Meanwhile Yeo is only just now hitting his 3rd year and looks miles ahead. Even down at the game at Joondy he was doing it, it's a joy to watch.

Highlights packages. Really?

Yeo hasn't consistently got up the ground and provided run and carry. That's reflected in the number of touches and bounces. Yeo like Smith has been principally used as a lock down defender. So it's not an unfair comparison.

Nowhere did I say Smith was better than Yeo or close to as good. He's more athletic, versatile and physical. I'm making the comparison because expectations exceed reality so bloody often and as it stands Yeo second season playing at AFL level isn't any better than Smith's second season in a high performing side.

There is no reason why Smith can't do that again if he's got the right role in the right side. Smiths a better player now than he was back in 2011 and that shows with his vastly superior WAFL performances.

 

[the harry]

Which was as useful as celibacy poster in a brothel

That was my point though. His upside is far greater than any pick we would get in exchange for him, while he hasn't been delisted because we've had plenty of fat cut from the list that has been out of contract while he hasn't.

 

[Dark Sharks]

Highlights packages. Really?

Yeo hasn't consistently got up the ground and provided run and carry. That's reflected in the number of touches and bounces. Yeo like Smith has been principally used as a lock down defender. So it's not an unfair comparison.

Nowhere did I say Smith was better than Yeo or close to as good. He's more athletic, versatile and physical. I'm making the comparison because expectations exceed reality so bloody often and as it stands Yeo second season playing at AFL level isn't any better than Smith's second season in a high performing side.

There is no reason why Smith can't do that again if he's got the right role in the right side. Smiths a better player now than he was back in 2011 and that shows with his vastly superior WAFL performances.

Yes, it's all i've got to go with for now i'm afraid. Didn't watch too many brisbane games.

Looking at the career stats on footywire, Yeo played an extra game in 2013 compared to Smiths 'best year' of 2011. The rest of the stats for those years are pretty much identical so i won't bother listing any of them.

The fact is Yeo quite often does take the game on, he does use his pace, he does run opponents down, and plays with intensity.

Smith i believe, just like many others on here, plays with zero intensity and aggression. I can't recall him running anybody down. His kicking at times is quite horrible. A strong body, but that does not mean anything if he plays like a woman. Have you ever seen him throw that body around? I think it's just the lack of intent that annoys me the most. We could be at a critical stage in a game and you'll see smith walking around disinterested.

I definitely do not watch enough WAFL to be able to comment on his performances. In the few games i've seen he's looked decent, without dominating. But unless he can transfer those performances to AFL level he'll forever be stuck dominating WAFL, like swift.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Come off it. Yeo didn't kick a goal all year.

Smiths kicking is fine. Always has been and always will be. He kicked the ball too long this year but with a lack of actual targets around it was the right thing to do.

Smith doesn't over extend himself In contests, which some would call lazy. But he holds himself in contests well and he's always been acceptable when it comes to one percenters.