Michael Smith (Australian footballer)
Encyclopedia
Michael Smith is a former Australian rules football
er who played with South Melbourne
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL).
Smith played his football as a centre half-forward
. He kicked five goals on his South Melbourne debut, in round 10 of the 1977 VFL season
, against Collingwood
. During the 1981 season, Smith was cleared to Richmond
but wouldn't play a senior VFL game at the club.
He was embroiled in controversy in 1981 when it was discovered that he had lied on his permit to play for South Melbourne. The discrepancy was in his address. He gave his grandmother's South Melbourne
address on the permit but in reality lived in Caulfied
, which was in St Kilda's zone
. As a result South Melbourne were fined heavily and the ladder was altered, to give Hawthorn
the four points they missed out on when they played South Melbourne earlier in the season, when Smith made two appearances before joining Richmond. This decision was later reversed.
His father, Stan Smith, was also a South Melbourne footballer. Jim McShane
, his great grandfather, played for Geelong
.
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 with South Melbourne
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
in the Victorian 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...
(VFL).
Smith played his football as a centre half-forward
Centre half-forward
In Australian rules football, the centre half-forward is a position on the half-forward line of a football field. The directly opposing player is a Centre-Half-Back....
. He kicked five goals on his South Melbourne debut, in round 10 of the 1977 VFL season
1977 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1977.-Grand final:North Melbourne drew with Collingwood 9.22 to 10.16 , in front of a crowd of 108244 people. A replay was held, and North Melbourne defeated Collingwood 21.25 to 19.10 in front of a crowd of 98366 people...
, against Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
. During the 1981 season, Smith was cleared to Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
but wouldn't play a senior VFL game at the club.
He was embroiled in controversy in 1981 when it was discovered that he had lied on his permit to play for South Melbourne. The discrepancy was in his address. He gave his grandmother's South Melbourne
South Melbourne
South Melbourne may refer to*South Melbourne, Victoria, suburb of Melbourne*South Melbourne FC, a football club based in South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia...
address on the permit but in reality lived in Caulfied
Caulfield, Victoria
Caulfield is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 12 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Glen Eira...
, which was in St Kilda's zone
Zoning (Australian rules football)
In Australian rules football, zoning refers to a system whereby a given area, either region or lower-level football league, is reserved exclusively for one club....
. As a result South Melbourne were fined heavily and the ladder was altered, to give 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...
the four points they missed out on when they played South Melbourne earlier in the season, when Smith made two appearances before joining Richmond. This decision was later reversed.
His father, Stan Smith, was also a South Melbourne footballer. Jim McShane
Jim McShane
Jim McShane was a player for the Geelong Football Club. McShane was the first player in the VFL/AFL competition to kick ten goals or more in a match when he scored eleven goals against St Kilda in 1899....
, his great grandfather, played for Geelong
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
.