Ashley Smith is heading west after being drafted by the Eagles in Saturday’s AFL National Draft. 25219 By Paul Pickering
ASHLEY Smith may well be remembered as one of the steals of the 2008 AFL National Draft, but he will only remember the anxious wait to hear his name called.
Smith, 18, was regarded by many pundits as a potential top 10 selection, so the tension mounted among family and friends at his Beaconsfield home as the second round came and went on Saturday morning.
Finally, and mercifully, the agony ended when West Coast snapped the versatile Dandenong Stingray up with the 36th pick.
“I was starting to get the shakes a bit because I hadn’t been picked up,” Smith said before jetting out for Perth this week.
“After the shock had worn off it was more relief that my name had finally been called and I didn’t have to worry about it any more.”
Not even the prospect of a move across the Nullarbor could tarnish the Smith clan’s moment.
“Moving interstate is a bit different from what I’m used to, but my whole family is on a high and everyone’s excited for me to have a crack at it,” he said.
West Coast recruiting manager Trevor Woodhouse was excited too, having secured the services of an AIS-AFL Academy graduate and Vic Metro representative.
“I definitely didn’t think he’d get out that far,” Woodhouse said on Saturday.
“He’s got blistering pace, a powerful kick and, with the way the game’s played now, he’s certainly a player with the credentials to fulfill a number of roles.”
Woodhouse believes Smith will develop into a damaging half-back at AFL level.
And Smith is looking forward to using his blistering speed and considerable foot skills on the vast expanses of Subiaco Oval.
Stingrays regional manager Darren Flanigan said Smith’s mature frame – he is already 185cm and 84kg – could see him push for senior selection sooner rather than later.
“He’s got a really strong body now, so if he gets through the pre-season and he’s still healthy it wouldn’t surprise me to see him bob up in a NAB Cup (pre-season) game,” Flanigan said.
Smith will join West Australian phenomenon Nicholas Natanui and the rest of the Eagles draftees in the club’s induction program this weekend.
His mum and brother are being flown over to meet the Eagles’ staff and the family that will host Ashley during his rookie year.
