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Lachlan Smith, Collingwood’s first (17th overall) selection in the 2011 NAB AFL Rookie Draft, is in a unique situation. He enters a club that he has already represented, albeit at VFL level, meaning he has already met some of his future teammates and coaches.
Smith, 18, played two matches for Collingwood’s VFL team in 2011 as a top-up player. The Murray Bushranger impressed against Sandringham, where assistant VFL coach Anthony Rocca commented that he “showed some good glimpses in his second game”.
Click to view Lachlan Smith's player profile.
The man himself says he took plenty from his taste of football against the bigger bodies in the VFL, and felt as if he belonged by the time his second match was over.
“I played against the Northern Bullants in the first game and I was lacking a bit in that one because it was my first go at VFL level.
“We played Sandringham two weeks afterwards and I felt more comfortable and probably felt as if I was meant to be there for that one.
“I really enjoyed both of those games and the experience I got out of them was just amazing. It just helped me along the way”.
Smith completed his VCE this year and is now able to allocate football his full focus.
He grew up in Benalla alongside fellow Collingwood recruit and former Bushrangers teammate Jamie Elliott, meaning the pair’s reunion at the Westpac Centre has added a nice touch to the close of his junior career.
“Me and Jamie are very good mates. He’d probably be one of my best friends”, Smith explained.
“We’re from the same town so we saw each other a lot. I only started playing with him this year but our friendship grew from there and we got to know each other. He’s so happy as well so it’s a good thing to happen.”
The 190cm utility cites his work ethic and the help of the Bushrangers’ coaching staff as the key factors behind his rapid improvement in 2011.
“About a year ago I was struggling to even make the Bushrangers squad. I was talking to my regional manager about this just before. I wasn’t that confident in myself in even making that.
“This year I’ve just worked my arse off to get to where I am now and it’s just come as a big shock and I’m very grateful for it.”
His growth over the past year has helped him hold down a key position in attack for the Bushrangers, but National Recruiting Manager Derek Hine sees Smith as playing at both ends of the ground as his career develops.
Smith agrees.
“I can definitely see myself as a versatile kind of player.
“Throughout this year we had a limited forward line and I played centre half forward for most of the year. I’d like to try myself in positions along the backline and throughout the midfield a well.
“With coaching and improvement I can see myself playing anywhere, basically.”
The one-time Western Bulldogs fan discovered where his new allegiances lie over the Internet this morning, but has no reservations about joining the Magpie Army.
“From the outside, they looked like the most professional and powerful sporting club in Australia. I had a little bit of an inside taste with the VFL and was just so impressed with the way they got their players to work and everything like that.
“My parents were impressed as well, and it is definitely the best club to go to”.
You get the feeling that his new coaches will be impressed with that attitude, too.
