Smarty's testimonial year

[Jerome]

from afc.com.au

This seems to have gotten lost amongst the Wiz Wok stuff:

Nigel Smart Testimonial Events.
afc.com.au
3:28:22 PM Mon 10 March, 2003


The last man standing! Nigel Smart is the sole surviving member of the first official Adelaide Crows team, which captured our hearts and emotions with an 86-point victory over Hawthorn in March 1991. Since that historic day, Nigel Smart has continued to entertain the loyal Crows fans both on and off the field.

In addition to being a member of the first official Crows team, Nigel Smart has achieved some outstanding milestones including All-Australian selection in his first AFL year 1991 and again in 1993 & 1998, Club Deputy Vice Captain1996, Club Vice Captain 1997-2000, a member of the Team of the Decade, 250 game player, 9 top 10 finishes in the Club Champion in his 12 seasons and was a made a life member of the club in 1999.


In season 2003, we celebrate the achievements of Nigel Smart and honour him in declaring this year his Testimonial Year. The Testimonial program will consist of the following events:

Nigel Smart Testimonial Dinner
Saturday 3rd May at the Pavilion Marquee, Adelaide Oval Function Centre.
A night to reflect on and celebrate the enjoyment Nigel has bought to all who have followed his career and the contribution he has made to the Adelaide Football Club and football in South Australia. An evening featuring some past and present players and officials who have taken this football journey with Nigel and whom can reflect on the Nigel Smart we have come to admire.
Cost: $125.00 per head – Black Tie

Nigel Smart Testimonial Match Day
Sunday 3rd August
The Round 18 clash with Sydney at AAMI Stadium will be a tribute to Nigel and will feature pre-match entertainment, crowd participation, competitions and much, much more. A day to definitely arrive early and enjoy the celebration.

Shed Party
Sunday 3rd August
The celebrations continue after the big game back in the Crows Shed where both past and present players will pay tribute to Nigel. This will the Shed party of the year, so make sure you put it in your diary as one not to miss. (Note: While Gold Members have priority access to the Shed on this day, a limited number of entry tickets will be available to other members).

For more details contact the Club on 08-84406666

 

[macca23]

Yeah, all power to Smarty.

Nige has been a great player for us since the day dot, and it's gonna be strange next year to see the old Hart / Smart combination broken up if he does retire at the end of the season.

Love your arrogance and your footy Nige.

Well done, and thanks for 12 years of enjoyment so far.!!

 

[Damp Squarie]

Shame hes yet to win a gold jacket?
I could've said
What a pity he'll never win the AFC club champion award?

Its a tiny thread of hope from me that he does a Bickley and has his best year; if that happens, it means we will be in the four knockin on the door!!

If it doesnt the Crows may be up against it.

Goodluck Nige

 

[napsyd]

Good work Nige!!

A true champion of our club and one of those players the opposition supporters all hate.

But we all loves ya!

Go Smarty!!

 

[Jars458]

Looking forward to the shed party in August

the one after Bick's testimonial game was a cracker, with Malcolm Blight being interviewed.

Can't wait to hear SMart at his. He will come up with someting different and itneresting I am sure.

A legend of the Club.

 

[noddy]

Nige deserves all the accolades he receives & more,

Go Nigel a true champion of the AFC & the SANFL,

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Smarty is truely a legend of the club. His confidence / arrogance has been crucial to our flag wins. By what I have seen this year, I reckon he is in for a stellar 2003 & will make those who have called for his retirement eat their words. Keep up the great work Smarty, including speaking your mind rather than the diplomatic BS we usually hear from footballers!

 

[MarksGirl-kbcrowgirl]

little bald skull caps

I have the perfect thing that the AFC can give away on Nigels testimonial match. We got the "oh what a bickley" signs at Bicks, I reckon the club should give away (or they could sell them at a small rate of say $2) bald skull caps that we could all wear! I think it would look so cool!

k
xx

 

[Blues_Girl]

Re: little bald skull caps

Originally posted by MarksGirl-kbcrowgirl
I have the perfect thing that the AFC can give away on Nigels testimonial match. We got the "oh what a bickley" signs at Bicks, I reckon the club should give away (or they could sell them at a small rate of say $2) bald skull caps that we could all wear! I think it would look so cool!

k
xx

What a good idea, i'd buy one

 

[Jerome]

Smart at his best.

Everyone probably saw this one news tonight, some of us may have cringed but I think it's hilarious! Go Smarty ya arrogant bugger!

Personally I reckon he's trying to stir em up the way Malthouse did to Port last year.

Jerome

Pies 'red hot' for Cup final: Smart
Alan Shiell
afl.com.au
5:35:17 PM Wed 12 March, 2003

Nigel Smart, Adelaide’s longest-serving player, says the odds are all in Collingwood’s favour and the Crows are the underdogs in Saturday night’s Wizard Home Loans Cup grand final at Telstra Dome.

Smart piled praise on the Magpies on Wednesday, hailing them as “a pretty awesome unit”, but still insisted the Crows could win the pre-season competition for the first time.


“Collingwood in the past have failed to capitalise on some of the things they’ve been given, and that might occur this week as well,” Smart said.

“It seems they have a perception of things going their way. But as yet they haven’t really taken advantage of those small things, so maybe this won’t be any different this weekend.

“They’re got the home-ground advantage, home-ground crowd, they’ve played every game in Melbourne (against Carlton, Hawthorn and Geelong), they’ve got a very good list, so they’re probably going into the game red hot.

“But we’ll give them a competitive game and hopefully take the cup back to Adelaide.

“The good thing about our form is that we have won (successive cup matches against Port Adelaide, West Coast and the Kangaroos) but I don’t think we have played our best football yet. Mark Ricciuto’s coming back and Wayne Carey’s not too far away, so that holds us in good stead coming into round one.”

Asked whether he thought Collingwood would be over-confident, Smart said: “I don’t know about over-confident. I think they’re a pretty down-to-earth side.

“They’ve got a very good base of players and Nathan Buckley and the team will just be focusing on quarter by quarter. I’ve got no doubt about that.”

Did Adelaide “owe Collingwood one” after last September’s preliminary final loss?

“Not particularly,” Smart said. “Last year was last year. This is the Wizard Cup grand final. It’s all new and fresh.

“Last year they were one of the form teams and I think this year they’re going to be around the mark and probably in a top-four position as well, so we won’t be taking them too lightly.

“I think their overall list has improved: the signings of a couple of key players … (Shane) Wakelin in the back half … and (Anthony) Rocca’s stepped up another gear … their midfield with (Paul) Licuria and Buckley – they form an awesome combination … and Steve McKee is one of the most difficult ruckmen to combat.

“So they’ve got winners all over the field and (Shane) Woewodin’s come into the side as well, so they’re a pretty awesome unit.

“I think we have to lift a gear this week. Against the Kangaroos, it was just an arm wrestle the whole game and Collingwood, I think, are a step above that.

“We’re playing at Telstra Dome so it’s foreign soil and probably a foreign crowd so we’ll need to be playing at our best if we want to win. They’ve beaten us the last few times and they’ve always been difficult opponents.”

Smart, 34 in May and starting his 13th AFL season with a club-record 251 games behind him, described Telstra Dome as “a unique stadium”.

“It’s quite different from any other ground, so we have to combat that,” he said. “We haven’t played there this year. The surface looks pretty ordinary from a TV point of view.

“We’ll go over there and have a look at the ground and see what that’s like. Collingwood have played a fair few games there (all three in the cup competition) so they’re acclimatised to it and are playing some good football

“So the odds are all in their favour so we’ll be the underdog once again.

“I’m looking forward to playing Collingwood and taking them on head-on. I think we can win the game, I think they think they can win the game, so it should be a very good battle.”

Smart said the Crows were “not fearful” of going to Melbourne.

“We’ll go over there as a professional unit and play accordingly, and I think Collingwood would be the same if they were playing here at Football Park (AAMI Stadium),” he said.

“So I think both sides are professional enough to play at Telstra Dome or Football Park. I just wish they could just toss a coin to decide where the game was going to be played. That’d be the simplest way to do it.”

Smart said he enjoyed playing in front of Collingwood crowds.

“They’re vocal and they have a culture about them, and hopefully they’re at their fiery best this weekend and our young players can experience that,” he said.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Smarty is a true champion of the club and its a pitty he has not won B&F. He looks set for another good year and his confidence and arrogance is one of a kind.

How good was that interview today, talking about Collingwood "under achieving".

Keep up the good work Nige

 

[macca23]

Originally posted by Jerome
Smart at his best.

Everyone probably saw this one news tonight, some of us may have cringed but I think it's hilarious! Go Smarty ya arrogant bugger!

Personally I reckon he's trying to stir em up the way Malthouse did to Port last year.

Jerome

I loved it Jerome. I said to my missus that Smarty just has to be one of the c ockiest, most confident but arrogant players of all time.

No wonder the other teams hate him!!! I reckon he's a champ.

 

[Damp Squarie]

Re: little bald skull caps

Originally posted by MarksGirl-kbcrowgirl
I have the perfect thing that the AFC can give away on Nigels testimonial match.

...a packet of Smarties each? BBQ briquettes?

 

[Crow54]

Bowling balls, maybe?

Well, of course, we all know what is slathered over the back page of today's 'Tiser..... those few words which will incite the Collingwood fans. Even though Nigel spoke a lot of sense, maybe he should have made his comments less provocative!

 

[Jars458]

Do you reckon he puts on an accent that he think sounds intellectual?

I remember seeng him in the Barr Smith Library once though. So he could be smart.

 

[Crow54]

Nah, I just think he uses big words and talks in riddles to make us all think he's smart.

 

[Jars458]

Re: little bald skull caps

Originally posted by MarksGirl-kbcrowgirl
I have the perfect thing that the AFC can give away on Nigels testimonial match. We got the "oh what a bickley" signs at Bicks, I reckon the club should give away (or they could sell them at a small rate of say $2) bald skull caps that we could all wear! I think it would look so cool!

k
xx

That is a great idea

You should let the Club know.

I can e-mail Phil Harper with the idea if you like.

 

[MarksGirl-kbcrowgirl]

Re: Re: little bald skull caps

Originally posted by Jars458
That is a great idea

You should let the Club know.

I can e-mail Phil Harper with the idea if you like.

go for is Jars, but if you get commision for this one - we share!