Smart to play on

[Jerome]

Smart to play on
Alan Shiell
afl.com.au
11:45:50 PM Fri 3 October, 2003

Adelaide veteran Nigel Smart will extend his AFL career into a 14th season.

Smart, 35 next May, announced his decision to play on at the Crows’ club champion presentation dinner at AAMI Stadium on Friday night, prompting spontaneous applause from the 550 guests.

“I think you just need to step back from it all and find out what challenges you as an individual, and work out how you went during the year and why you can commit for next season,” he said.

“I think the club needs to take another step and I’d like to be a part of that process.”

Asked if he would speak to coach Gary Ayres about getting ‘some easier tasks’ next season, Smart said: “Not really. I like those challenges. They bring the best out of me and it would be nice to carry that on.”

Smart said he would ‘run, run and run more’ to get ready for next season.

“That’s how the AFL is changing,” he said. “It’s turning into a running game and, really, if you want to be up there with the best, you’re going to have to get your body and mind around it, and that means plenty of running.”

Smart remains the only survivor from Adelaide’s first AFL match – the 86-point win against Hawthorn under lights at AAMI Stadium (then Football Park) on March 22, 1991.

With 85 votes, he finished a creditable 11th behind the winner - captain Mark Ricciuto (159) - in Adelaide’s club champion award this season, in which he played 21 of the Crows’ 24 matches to lift his career tally to a club-record 272 – the same as that of dual premiership skipper Mark Bickley, 34, another inaugural-year squad member who recently announced his retirement.


I cant say that I agree with your decsiion - it puts the club in a difficult spot - but Good luck Nige.

 

[noddy]

Good on him,

 

[maccas_no1]

Well Done Smarty, glad you are going on

 

[Scotty's_Girl]

I still wish Bicks was going on!

But, good on ya Smarty! Lets hope the Crows win the premiership next year. What a great way that would be to end his career ... and also Wayne's (if he retires next year)!!

 

[maccas_no1]

Wayne said next year will probably be his last, do it for the both of them

 

[-WWJD-]

Hmm...having mixed emotions about this one at the moment

 

[Stiffy_18]

I am not too thrilled that he is playing on. Next year he will still give value and play some good footy BUT he will be keeping a youngster from having a go.

We really need to be persisting with youth this year because if we don't we will be in for a very lean year in 2005 as the likes of Carey, Smart, Burns and Clare will most likely play their last season in 2004.

 

[maccas_no1]

He might just show a few of the kids a thing or two also Stiffy you cant beat experience

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by maccas_no1
Stiffy you cant beat experience

True, you can't beat experience BUT you also need to blood youngsters to eliminate any inconsistencies in your clubs record. I just think that he is keeping someone like Reilly, Schuback, Parker, Hentschel or Bock. One of those fellas could have been given a spot insted of Smart.

 

[maccas_no1]

So you would play Reilly on Lynch?????? Aidan could dance real good for Lynch Bock needs to goto a solarium, but he could get roasted by Lynch instead

Sorry Stiffy we need Smarty to show these lads the way

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by maccas_no1
So you would play Reilly on Lynch?????? Aidan could dance real good for Lynch Bock needs to goto a solarium, but he could get roasted by Lynch instead

Sorry Stiffy we need Smarty to show these lads the way

Its not that long ago that Smary was given a job on Lynch and he got spanked. If we get Holland or a good ruckman, I know who I would be playing on Lynch and its not Smart

We need to blood youngsters, not play a 35 year old who had inconsistent 2003 season and if I recall cerrectly there was a 3-4 week period where we were saying that Smart needs to be dropped. Just because he had a reasonable finish to 2003, we jumpp on the bandwagon and want him to play well.

 

[maccas_no1]

Yes IF we get Holland but what if we dont??????Who is the answer for Lynch???? and those types of players???

 

[-WWJD-]

Originally posted by maccas_no1
Yes IF we get Holland but what if we dont??????Who is the answer for Lynch???? and those types of players???

Perrie?!

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by maccas_no1
Yes IF we get Holland but what if we dont??????Who is the answer for Lynch???? and those types of players???

Biglands

Parker will get there in time but will need to bulk up.

Smart wouldn't do any better on Lynch than Bassett.

We'll get Holland for Bode
My latest mail is that Doughty is off the table. The club has convinced him to stay.

 

[maccas_no1]

Dogga told us last night he is staying at the AFC

Biglands who is the ruck?????Please dont say Ben Marsh

 

[maccas_no1]

No not Perrie

 

[ant]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18

My latest mail is that Doughty is off the table. The club has convinced him to stay.

What? Why? Surely if he can help get a ruckman, big defender or at least a 3rd round pick, Doughty should pack his bags?

Glad to see Smart go on, still a valuable member of the side, and can play some important/different roles for us next year.

 

[macca23]

Originally posted by ant
What? Why? Surely if he can help get a ruckman, big defender or at least a 3rd round pick, Doughty should pack his bags?

Agreed.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by ant
What? Why? Surely if he can help get a ruckman, big defender or at least a 3rd round pick, Doughty should pack his bags?

Glad to see Smart go on, still a valuable member of the side, and can play some important/different roles for us next year.

I have no idea ant. You r guess is as good as my.

I probably wouldn't trade him for a 3rd round pick, as he is probably a better plaayer than you would get in 3rd round but if he could help us get Holland or a ruckman surely he should be traded.

Obviously AFC are counting on him since they convinced him to stay. I have this suspicion that once again AFC will trade "early" picks

 

[GoalsFrom50Out]

I think we should forfeit all matches where Lynch is playing

 

[macca23]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
I have no idea ant. You r guess is as good as my.

I probably wouldn't trade him for a 3rd round pick, as he is probably a better plaayer than you would get in 3rd round but if he could help us get Holland or a ruckman surely he should be traded.

Obviously AFC are counting on him since they convinced him to stay. I have this suspicion that once again AFC will trade "early" picks

Could they be getting him to sign, so that they can trade him for value, rather than him nominate for the draft and we get nothing??

He will get bugger-all games with us next year as Reilly, Burton and Begley have the wings covered

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by macca23
Could they be getting him to sign, so that they can trade him for value, rather than him nominate for the draft and we get nothing??

He will get bugger-all games with us next year as Reilly, Burton and Begley have the wings covered

I doubt it. Why would they go to all the trouble to sign him up. I don't think AFC deal in that manner. Maybe they think that possibly losing Bode and Gallagher would leave too much of a gap in our midfield.

I am buggered if I know

As you say with Reilly, Burton and Begley having the wings covered, and the likes of Johncock moving into the midfield, he will get bugger all game time.

I smell a quick fix coming on.

 

[lozstar]

Dogga said last night he's staying.. and Aidan said that dogga's staying too.

Also, Chris Ladhams is quite possibly signing a 2 year contract on Monday.

 

[ant]

Originally posted by macca23
Could they be getting him to sign, so that they can trade him for value, rather than him nominate for the draft and we get nothing??

He will get bugger-all games with us next year as Reilly, Burton and Begley have the wings covered

Well, that's an idea. I would have thought he'd have very limited opportunities once more next year and it'd be better to at the very least replenish the stocks with a youngster. We'd probably have better luck with a 3rd round draft choice!

But yeah, maybe/hopefully they're playing it smart and making sure they get some sort of value out of him.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by lozstar
Dogga said last night he's staying.. and Aidan said that dogga's staying too.

Also, Chris Ladhams is quite possibly signing a 2 year contract on Monday.

More importantly is Aidan gettting promoted??????

No surprise with Lads. I just hope he steps up a notch next year. If he can play a whole year like he did in the Wizard Cup he could be a real gun next year.

Anyone know whats happening with Bode??????