Perth (WAFL) 2009-2013
East Perth (WAFL) 2014
Berwick (South-East FL) 2015-2017
Quick-footed defender Ashley Smith was in and out of the side after being drafted from the TAC Cup in 2008, often frustrating supporters with his laconic on-field demeanour.
West Coast career[]
Smith blitzed the field in the 20 metre sprint at draft camp before being selected by West Coast in the third round of the 2008 draft.
After overcoming a hamstring injury at the start of the 2009 season, he spent the year with Perth in the WAFL. Smith forced his way into the Eagles' side for his debut in the middle of 2010, with his 37-disposal game against the Falcons impossible for selectors to ignore. He kicked a goal on debut and remained in the side for the rest of the season.
Smith started the 2011 season with Perth but was called up in round 6 and played the rest of the home and away season in the seniors, before losing his spot for the first final against Collingwood. He was back in the side for the opening round of 2011, playing the first 5 rounds before suffering an ankle injury at training. Forced to return through the WAFL and still hampered by his ankle, he showed only patchy form for Perth and as a result stayed in the twos for the remainder of the year.
Smith played the first game of 2013 but was subsequently dropped. He worked his way back into the side later in the year, playing nine of the last ten games.
2014 brought about a new coach and a change in role. Smith was trialled off a half-forward flank at East Perth and showed reasonable promise in the position. He was called up for two games late in the season but spent the rest of the year in the WAFL and was delisted at the end of the season.
Post-AFL career[]
Smith rejoined his junior club, Berwick, in the South-East Football League in Melbourne's outer suburbs,[1] where he remains as of 2018.
Stats[]
| AFL | Gm | G | B | K | M | H | D | T | Cl | WAFL | Gm | G | B | K | M | H | D | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 0 | Per | 13 | 5 | 7 | 124 | 52 | 45 | 169 | ||||||||||
| 2010 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 89 | 31 | 47 | 136 | 12 | 2 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 166 | 74 | 75 | 241 | 4 | ||
| 2011 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 164 | 81 | 97 | 261 | 33 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 49 | 27 | 28 | 77 | 11 | ||
| 2012 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 13 | 39 | 83 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 118 | 41 | 68 | 186 | 7 | ||
| 2013 | 12 | 1 | 1 | 113 | 48 | 68 | 181 | 23 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 108 | 42 | 49 | 157 | 5 | ||
| 2014 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 5 | 0 | EP | 16 | 17 | 8 | 185 | 99 | 98 | 283 | 27 | |
| Tot | 45 | 10 | 6 | 421 | 180 | 257 | 678 | 79 | 12 | ||||||||||
| Avg | 0.2 | 9.4 | 4.0 | 5.7 | 15.1 | 1.8 | 0.3 |
References[]
http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/A/Ashley_Smith.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashley_Smith_(Australian_footballer)
http://www.wafl.com.au/players/view/2096
- ↑ David Nagel, Star News (15 January 2015), "Ex-Eagles Ash back where it all began":https://berwicknews.starcommunity.com.au/news/2015-01-15/ex-eagles-ash-back-where-it-all-began/