SINCE making his AFL debut in 2011, Hawthorn midfielder Isaac Smith has missed just 10 games.
The durable Hawk – who debuted alongside fellow mature-aged recruit Paul Puopolo five seasons ago – will play his 100th match against the Sydney Swans on Saturday night.
It’s been a career full of highlights – including two premierships – highlighted by blistering bursts of leg-speed and long, left foot goals.
The 26-year-old has undoubtedly become one of the Hawks’ most important players, since being drafted from VFL club North Ballarat with pick 19 in the 2010 NAB AFL Draft.
Smith made his debut against Port Adelaide in Round 7, 2011.
“I remember a couple of things (from my debut)… it only feels like it was a year ago,” Smith said.
“It was pretty awesome debuting with Poppy – it would have been nice to play the 100th with him, but it’s been an awesome five years."
Plenty has changed since then, and the likeable Hawk has become part of the fabric at Hawthorn.
“You don’t walk in (to the club) all twitchy and nervous anymore,” he said.
“It’s like anywhere you work – you develop relationships, you become closer and strong with people the more you’re around them.
“There was always a bit of anxiety early on, but you get past that… and I walk through the door now with a big smile on my face.
He’s settled at Hawthorn and is thankful for the opportunities playing AFL has given him over the past five years.
“I’ve done some pretty cool things with the footy club and the opportunity footy gives you,” Smith said.
“I grew up with Matt Suckling and Luke Breust, and I hang around with Liam Shiels, James Frawley, Taylor Duryea, Jonathan O’Rourke, Jack Gunston, Jon Ceglar… there’s a big group of us who all hang around together.”
“There’s not too many jobs in the world where you get to carry on with your mates for six or seven days of the week.”
Originally from Cootamundra in New South Wales, the early days of Smith’s football journey were with the Temora Kangaroos, East Wagga and Wagga Tigers football clubs.
While studying at the University of Ballarat in 2010, he managed to break into North Ballarat’s VFL side after three games in the VFL reserves and a stint at Ballarat league club Redan.
An exceptional VFL finals series saw him drafted in the blink of an eye by the Hawks as a 21-year-old mature-age recruit.
The hard-running midfielder was a key component of the Hawks’ back-to-back premierships in 2013 and 2014, but has arguably taken his game to another level this season.
Smith is averaging more than 25 disposals per game – plus a goal – and ranks in the Hawks’ top five players for disposals, kicks, handballs, uncontested possessions, rebound 50s and inside 50s.
A real competitor, Smith said it would be great to play his 100th game on Saturday night, and is hopeful there will be plenty more games to come.
“It’s a good achievement, but there’s still plenty to achieve this year,” Smith said.
“Hopefully we can have as many successful games as we did in my first 100 – it would be nice to keep going at an 80-something-percent strike rate.
“I want to keep growing with the group.
“I’m sure over the next couple of years we’ll have a few younger guys coming through, so I’m hoping to help them develop… and keep winning.”
