Taylor Smith (Australian footballer)

Taylor Smith (born 13 February 2000) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the Brisbane Lions in the AFL Women's competition (AFLW). She is a premiership player with the Lions, having played in the club's 2021 AFL Women's Grand Final side.[1]

Taylor Smith
Smith playing for Brisbane in the 2022 season 7 Grand Final
Personal information
Date of birth (2000-02-13) 13 February 2000 (age 24)
Original team(s) Bond University (QAFLW)
Draft 2019 Priority Signing, Gold Coast
Height 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Forward / Ruck
Club information
Current club Brisbane
Number 31
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2020 Gold Coast 01 0(0)
2021– Brisbane 47 (27)
Total 48 (27)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2023 season.
Career highlights
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Smith previously played for Gold Coast.

Early life

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Smith grew up on the Gold Coast and attended Coomera Anglican College throughout her upbringing.[2] Her first sporting interest came at the age of 10 in the form of athletics where she predominantly focused on high jump and hurdles.[3] She transitioned to heptathlon at the age of 16 and began competing at the national level in just her fourth ever event in the sport. Towards the end of Year 12, she played Australian rules football for the first time in the local APS inter-school competition and was spotted by an AFL Queensland scout who organised a trial with the Gold Coast Suns Academy. She began playing club football for the first time in 2018 for Bond University in the QAFLW.

Less than two years after playing football for the first time, Smith was announced as a priority signing for the Gold Coast Suns' inaugural AFLW list.[4]

AFLW career

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Gold Coast

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Smith made her AFLW debut for Gold Coast in round 6 of the 2020 AFL Women's season.[5]

Brisbane

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In August 2020, Smith was traded to Brisbane, along with a couple of picks, for the 24th pick of the 2020 AFL Women's draft.[6]

Smith had a strong first season with the Lions in which she played every game. She had her best game for the season in round 3, in the Lions' 45 point win over West Coast. in that game, she tallied a career-high 3 goals, 11 disposals and 8 hitouts, securing her 2 best and fairest votes.[7][8] Smith became a premiership player in the club's 2021 AFL Women's Grand Final winning side.[9] Smith signed on with Brisbane for one more year on 15 June 2021.[10]

Statistics

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Statistics are correct to the end of the 2021 season.[11]
Legend
  G  
Goals
  K  
Kicks
  D  
Disposals 
  T  
Tackles
  B  
Behinds 
  H  
Handballs 
  M  
Marks
H/O
Hit-outs
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T H/O G B K H D M T H/O
2020 Gold Coast 13 1 0 0 3 7 10 1 1 4 0.0 0.0 3.0 7.0 10.0 1.0 1.0 4.0 0
2021# Brisbane 31 11 5 5 37 18 55 17 18 57 0.5 0.5 3.4 1.6 5.0 1.5 1.6 5.2 2
Career 12 5 5 40 25 65 18 19 61 0.4 0.4 3.3 2.1 5.4 1.5 1.6 5.1 2

References

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  1. ^ "Brisbane Lions complete AFLW fairytale | Kasey Symons". 17 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Taylor Smith has become the Gold Coast Suns last AFLW priority signing". Gold Coast Bulletin. 30 August 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Smith's journey to the top of two sports". goldcoastfc.com.au. 4 November 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  4. ^ "SUNS lock in Taylor Smith". goldcoastfc.com.au. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Gold Coast Suns AFLW Team Announcement: Round 6". goldcoastfc.com.au. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Taylor made for the Lions". Brisbane Lions. Telstra Media. 12 August 2020.
  7. ^ Whiting, Michael (15 February 2021). "Second-half blitz fires Lions back to the top". AFL Women's Media.
  8. ^ "Brisbane WFC vs West Coast WFC - Player Stats". australianfootball.com. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  9. ^ "Third time lucky: Lions nab first flag after epic decider".
  10. ^ "Stars Sign and the Future Looks Bright". Lions Media. 15 June 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Taylor Smith". australianfootball.com. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
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