HAWTHORN speedster Isaac Smith says his recent improvement is on the back of the confidence he has in himself and his position within the team.
Smith has played 56 games in three seasons and has missed only 6 of a possible 62 matches since he made his debut in Round 7, 2011.
He was drafted as a 21-year old after an impressive season for VFL Club North Ballarat, and taken by the Hawks with their first round selection, number 19 overall.
Like any young player, although 22 by the time the 2011 season rolled around and he had earned his debut game, Smith doubted his position in the Hawthorn side.
In his first year, he averaged 18.6 disposals in 16 games and in 2012, 17.5 in 22 games.
So far this season, Smith’s disposal is up – averaging 20.7 touches in 18 matches so far this season.
But, in his past five games, Smith has played arguably some of the best football of his career.
Since Round 16, he has averaged 25.6 disposals and is playing with an attacking flair that has added another weapon to Hawthorn’s already impressive arsenal.
What has been most impressive though, is the fact he has been one of Hawthorn’s best performers when the team hasn’t been playing as well as it could.
In the Round 19 loss to Richmond, Smith was one of Hawthorn’s best, gathering 29 touches and laying four tackles and in Round 17, gathered 27 touches in a lacklustre performance by the Hawks in the win over the Bulldogs.
Smith says his rich vein of form comes down to the acknowledgment and realisation that he’s an important part of Hawthorn’s best 22, and that he belongs at AFL level.
“I guess you could put it down to being more experienced now but also realising you’re an important part of the team and you’ve got to pull your weight and if you’re not, then it really hurts the team,” he told hawthornfc.com.au
“Early on, you don’t feel as comfortable in the team, you feel a bit vulnerable in your spot - every young player goes through that I guess.
“(So) making sure you’ve got the confidence to run out and feel as though you’re important and out there to contribute is something that comes and I guess I feel that now.”
The now 24 year old is mindful too, though, that with increased possession comes increased scrutiny on disposal, something for which he has been widely criticised for in the past.
But he says learning from past mistakes has helped improve his football, along with the support he receives from his teammates and coaches.
The coaches and players have given me a lot of positive reinforcement but also you know yourself when you are contributing and impacting the game the way you want to be.”
“The coaches and players have given me a lot of positive reinforcement but also you know yourself when you are contributing and impacting the game the way you want to be,” he said.
“The boys are giving me the ball and hopefully I’m using it well – the more times you get it, the more times you can make mistakes so I’m trying to learn from that and limit any mistakes and help the team out.”
His focus, along with the team’s in the final three weeks of the home and away season isn’t on individual performance, however, but rather playing its best football in the lead-up to September.
“It’s lucky for us we’ve got August to get our footy going because we know we’re going to be there in September so we need to get our best footy going now,” he said.
“Last year we probably weren’t playing our best footy in September. We’ve got three big games in the last three weeks but this is the fun time of year and we’re really looking forward to it.”
