Hawthorn vice-captain Isaac Smith is set to play his 150th game against GWS on Saturday.
Taken with the 19th pick in the 2010 National Draft, Smith has wasted little time in reaching the milestone, playing in 149 of a possible 164 games since arriving at the club.
Over that period, Smith has enjoyed a range of success with the New South Welshman’s achievements highlighted by three premierships in 2013, 2014, 2015, the 2016 Best Clubman award and, beginning this year, the club’s vice-captaincy.
Smith’s journey into the AFL is one of the truly great stories.
At the beginning of the 2010 season, a 22-year old Smith was playing for Redan in the Ballarat Football League.
Having gained the attention of onlookers, Smith was recruited mid-season to the North Ballarat VFL side, who he would go onto win a state-league premiership with later that year.
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Just months later, Hawthorn would read Smith’s name out as their first pick of the 2010 national draft.
Seven years later, Smith has built a reputation as being one of the most hard-running, damaging wingman in the competition.
Despite enduring the first season of his career where he has lost more games than he has won in 2017, Smith is still flourishing, averaging career-bests in kicks, inside 50s and clearances.
This weekend Smith will be looking to help record the Hawks’ third-straight win to continue their push for a finals berth.
There is no side in the league that Smith averages more goals against than the Giants, so Hawks fans will be hopeful this record can continue in Round 16.
