Jesse W. Smith
Encyclopedia
Jesse W. Smith is a former Australian rules football
er who played for St Kilda and North Melbourne
in the Australian Football League
(AFL). He is the son of former North Melbourne player, Ross Smith
. Formerly playing for North Melbourne, he was drafted to play for St Kilda in 2010, and retired at the end of 2010.
, Smith made his debut during the 2004 AFL season. However, Smith struggled with injury throughout his entire career, missing all of the 2006 season due to an ankle injury. He returned in 2007, earning a nomination for the AFL Rising Star after gathering 27 possessions in a game against Essendon. However, Smith was again limited by injuries during the 2008 season, playing only two games after suffering a series of hamstring injuries.
Smith managed just two games for the North Ballarat reserves in 2009 and re-injured his hamstring in the second of them. Frustrated with the Kangaroos' facilities, he knocked back a new contract and asked the club to trade him. After no trade was reached, he was delisted and started training with Hawthorn
.
Smith played four games for Sandringham at VFL level and looked like a possible wildcard come finals time before breaking down with an ankle injury. Smith retired from the Saints at the end of season 2010 because of his injury toll; it impacted his fitness, skills and game time. It was widely believed that after his last ankle injury, he would not be able to compete at AFL level.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for St Kilda and North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL). He is the son of former North Melbourne player, Ross Smith
Ross W. Smith
Ross Smith is a former Australian rules footballer who played for North Melbourne during the 1980s and 90s on the half back line. He is currently an assistant coach at Richmond.-External links:...
. Formerly playing for North Melbourne, he was drafted to play for St Kilda in 2010, and retired at the end of 2010.
North Melbourne
After being selected by North Melbourne under the father/son rule in the 2004 AFL Draft2004 AFL Draft
The 2004 AFL Draft, concerning player acquisitions in the 2004/05 Australian Football League off-season, consisted of a trade period, a national draft, a pre-season draft, and the elevation of rookies...
, Smith made his debut during the 2004 AFL season. However, Smith struggled with injury throughout his entire career, missing all of the 2006 season due to an ankle injury. He returned in 2007, earning a nomination for the AFL Rising Star after gathering 27 possessions in a game against Essendon. However, Smith was again limited by injuries during the 2008 season, playing only two games after suffering a series of hamstring injuries.
Smith managed just two games for the North Ballarat reserves in 2009 and re-injured his hamstring in the second of them. Frustrated with the Kangaroos' facilities, he knocked back a new contract and asked the club to trade him. After no trade was reached, he was delisted and started training with Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
.
St Kilda
At the end of the 2009 season, frustrated with his inability to overcome various injuries which had sidelined him and citing the club's poor facilities as an issue, Smith requested a trade from the Kangaroos. The trade failed to eventuate and he was prepared to enter the national or pre-season drafts to find a new club. On 26 November 2009, St Kilda drafted him with pick number 60 in the AFL draft.Smith played four games for Sandringham at VFL level and looked like a possible wildcard come finals time before breaking down with an ankle injury. Smith retired from the Saints at the end of season 2010 because of his injury toll; it impacted his fitness, skills and game time. It was widely believed that after his last ankle injury, he would not be able to compete at AFL level.