Delisted Brock Smith (2019-2021)

[dlanod]

Player Bio
Medium defender with a great appetite for the contest and very strong overhead. He is tough andshows good use of the ball. He was solid in defence for Vic Country averaging 13.7 disposals. He has had an outstanding year as Captain of Gippsland Power in the NAB League, averaging 20.9 disposals at 76 per cent efficiency and 5.9 marks. A very good player one-on-one and courageous in his attack on the ball.

Highlights @ https://draftprospects.prod.afl/prospect/1009242

 

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From cleaning coal to draft goal: Smith powers towards AFL dream (Daniel Cherny)

It was the Australia Day weekend this year. Brock Smith was at a mate’s house, hanging in the swimming pool when he got a call from his mum Leanne. “I was like, ‘Oh, this is a bit strange,’” Smith recalls. “She was like, ‘What are you doing? I’m going to need to pick you up.’”

His dad Trevor - a fencing contractor - had been involved in an accident. Trevor had been transporting his tractor on the back of his truck in the West Gippsland town of Trafalgar. Trying to take the truck up a steep hill, Trevor stopped to unload the tractor. “As soon as he’s got in the tractor it started sliding on the gravel back. It slid down the hill.”

Leanne told her son that his dad had been taken to the Alfred Hospital. “We’re going to have to get over," Leanne told her son. Smith recalled: ‘‘She was like, ‘Don’t worry, don’t worry.’ It was quite stressful at the time.” Trevor got lucky. He broke his back but lived to tell the tale and is able to walk. He went back to fencing briefly, but the work was too strenuous on his back. Instead Trevor is doing some work in the Yallourn Power Station. That’s also where Smith has been working a few days a week.

The Gippsland Power captain is as tough and committed as they come in this year's draft pool. Tipped by industry sources to fall late in the second round of the draft later this month, Smith is a hard-nosed lock-down defender who makes sure his direct opponent earns his kicks. He prides himself on "just being the most competitive and the hardest worker. Going out there giving 100 per cent every time.”

Smith finished school last year but has deferred his university studies in exercise and sports science at Federation University. Instead he’s been getting his hands dirty at the power plant, where his uncle runs a business. Smith's bosses are all too happy to give him some of the more physically challenging tasks. As a fit, young footballer, he doesn’t have an excuse to get out of them. “The jobs I usually get given are the hard ones,” Smith said. “All sorts of different stuff. A bit of coal cleaning, a bit of boiler cleaning, some drain digging. Anything they really need around the plant. “Digging out the drains, they’re no good. A couple of feet worth of just all this stuff you’ve got to dig out ... a build-up of everything.”

It wouldn’t be quite correct however to say that Smith has always been in good nick. In the last home and away game of the season, Smith felt unwell. He was nauseous, felt tired, and was struggling to hold down food. “I played, I was crook, I could barely stand up. I didn’t play too well, funnily enough,” he said. “And then I got it checked out the next week, they said [it was] tonsilitis.” But the initial diagnosis was wrong. Smith had glandular fever. “They gave me some antibiotics, and it didn’t really have much of an effect because antibiotics don’t work for glandular fever.” Blood tests eventually confirmed what was wrong. Smith lost about four and ½ kilograms, and was on limited duties at the recent draft combine.

He has had to gradually regain the weight he lost, while still being diligent about the types of food he is eating, mindful of his skin folds. He is that sort of person. A leader, he hasn't been afraid to have tough conversations with Power teammates when they haven't followed team rules and structures. Smith grew up a Collingwood supporter. Both his father and his grandfather were Pies fans, so he didn’t have a choice. His favourite players included Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan, and Leigh Brown - who would later become Smith’s coach at Power, and then Vic Country.

"He's been really great for us, really supportive," Smith said. "I learned a lot from him too. He's really caring. Treats every player on the list individually, he'll get to know everyone, give everyone the same attention. He'll really help you with everything along the way with everything you need, even if it's not footy-related." For Smith, being drafted would be the materialisation of a long-term dream. "Ever since I watched my first AFL game at a very young age it was always something that I wanted to do. I've played footy my whole life."

 

[jjami15]

Hmmmmm, me like. Bit of real world knowledge too.

 

[WhiteLionFeva]

Nothing not to like there. Could become a favourite with that attack on the contest mentality. He'll have plenty of caring types around him at the Lions too.

 

[Sproj]

But Collingwood fan

 

[irel]

The club that impressed draftee Brock Smith the most – LIVE AFL RADIO

aflnation.com.au

Gippsland Power’s captain Brock Smith was left with a strong impression after the meeting with Adelaide heading into the draft.

The youngster shared that he has met with fifteen clubs and the Crows impressed him greatly.

“They were very confronting but very honest with me,” he told SEN Breakfast.

Smith is open about the idea of moving interstate, insisting he would have no choice but to travel being from Gippsland.

“Even if I got to a Melbourne club, I would still have to move out of home,” he said.

The tall defender compares his games to the likes of Dylan Grimes and Brayden Maynard, just with a bit more “niggle”.

During the 2019 NAB League season Smith was one of Power’s biggest contributors averaging 19.6 disposals and 5.4 marks in his 12 appearances.

The Power captain shared his tactics of getting in his opponent’s head is something that has become part of his game.

“Even if the ball is not in the area just trying to get into them a little bit,” he said.

Heading into the draft Smith is projected to go in the top 50 despite admitting he had slow starts to his NAB League season and Victoria Country U18’s National Championship appearance.

“I was finding some form in the back end of the season but was cut short as I got glandular fever so was out for the finals, it was a bit rough,” he said.

Glandular fever also meant that Smith was unable to take part in the NAB AFL Draft Combine.

“There is only so much I can do, so just making sure I am doing as much as I can and not trying to overdo it,” he said.

 

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Your club's draftees: Who's flying, who's R1 ready, who needs time?

Brock Smith (NAB AFL Draft, No.33 overall)
The rugged defender started on a slightly modified program to adjust to his new lifestyle and is now in full stride. Like Robertson, impressed against the Suns.

 

[ZoBlitz]

Lions Confirm Three List Changes

The Brisbane Lions have advised three players they will not be offered a new AFL contract for next year.

Senior listed players Tom Joyce, Brock Smith and rookie Connor Ballenden were informed of the decision in meetings on Monday.