Brodie Smith has regained a place in the senior Adelaide side recently, much to the consternation of a section of Crows supporters who think he is just the sort of list-clogger that the club needs to get past on its way to securing a top four spot in 2025. This, at a club which gave David Mackay 200 games and appointed Nathan van Berlo as captain. Adelaide's historical bent towards mediocrity aside, Smith was a gun a few years ago with his run-and-carry from defence, but he has lost a yard or three over the years and is now on the fringes. Does he play finals?
Brodie Smith has regained a place in the senior Adelaide side recently, much to the consternation of a section of Crows supporters who think he is just the sort of list-clogger that the club needs to get past on its way to securing a top four spot in 2025. This, at a club which gave David Mackay 200 games and appointed Nathan van Berlo as captain. Adelaide's historical bent towards mediocrity aside, Smith was a gun a few years ago with his run-and-carry from defence, but he has lost a yard or three over the years and is now on the fringes. Does he play finals?
Brodie explodie
After missing most of 2018 with an ACL rupture, Brodie Smith roared back last season with his best set of figures, finishing fourth in the league for metres gained. However, it was not his best mark in exotic scoring formats, as his disposal efficiency of 71% was about ten points off his elite HBF contemporaries, a malaise that affected a lot of Crow teammates kicking to a poorly organised forward line. He was not tagged all year. Back in 2017 when the Crows topped the ladder and Smith was in his last great vein of form, he was arguably the most damaging half back in the game with a heap of scores sourced directly from his rebounds. Is it his fault that the system has broken down, or can we lay blame on the pieces in front of him? He will stay in his role and have some different targets to aim at in 2020. Pick him in early rounds with confidence.
Long road for Brodie
An ACL rupture in the 2017 finals series meant Brodie Smith could only play two senior games last August, then miss the last two. At his best he is the primary launcher for the Crows, top ten for metres gained across the comp and architect of plenty of Adelaide attacks despite starting at half back. That role was filled last season by Paul Seedsman off a wing with a largely similar stat line, neither of which manage to breach 80 in fantasy point average. Smith's brief return late last year featured far more handballs than we are used to seeing from him, though perhaps we can put that down to lacking match fitness in his legs. There is downside potential there after such a big injury for a player who relies on his legs so much, though hopefully a full preseason will restore most if not all of his strength. Sometimes after an ACL, a player can never regain his previous powers; Smith deserves the benefit of the doubt.
Brodie reduced to roadie
Undeservedly, Brodie Smith capped off another excellent year with an ACL rupture in the first final last September, which will put him out for 2018 too. Focus from fantasy coaches will move beyond Smith himself to whoever will take up the rebounding slack in the Adelaide backline, sadly.
