Josh Smillie [merged]

[Andyy]

Nah just don’t see the need in posting that about a 19 year old when all it’s gonna do is feed into more negative hateful posts.

Don’t know him from Adam, but like any of our young drafted players I’m very excited to see him play and hope he becomes a star.

Hateful? Not from me.

I've just heard that essentially some of the fitness issues may not be purely bad luck, more or less.

I too am very excited to see him play. I hear he's taller.

[TigerLand]

Well my counter argument would be that is clearly not the case now seeing he along with a number of the other kids have been training daily (unofficially) at the club when they're supposed to be on hoiliday

It can take a bit of time for the penny to drop for some; especially when things have come was for them in the past

Expect him to debut round 1 in 2026 

Penny may have dropped, may have been a 2025 issue only. Time will tell. I hope he plays R1.

Don’t see the point in posting this about an 18-19 year old kid from an average at best source.

Whether it’s true or not you know people will now jump on it at every single opportunity, plays an avg game or picks up a niggle.

Just gives people another reason to pile on based on an unsubstantiated rumour.

Source isn't average. Teacher is a direct family member of mine and taught Smillie in VCE. He grew huge and dominated, has had to learn the amount of work it takes to succeed at AFL is much higher than high school etc.

I wouldn't think many school teachers would know much about what it takes to be an elite athlete.

Ask Lleyton Hewitt what his teachers thought. Reckon Dusty's teachers weren't overly positive either.

To be good at anything at the top level I think it's fair to say you need to work hard, be consistent etc. Laziness and compacency won't help.

Don't have to be an elite athlete to make that deduction about top level sports.

I wouldn't take a teachers valuation of student seriously on prospects of an AFL career. Would be countless examples of poor students excelling in life, sport music etc. Teachers are wonderful but wouldn't be taking this as any value on a draft prospect. If it's his junior footy coach or TAC cup staff member, sure. Couldn't care less if he's lazy with his science homework.

[MintOnLamb]

Well he is in the system now, I am sure he is fully aware of his required work rate via examples set by team mates and mentoring by coaches.
I am looking forward to see his progression and if some teacher passes an opinion I hope Josh proves him wrong.