The Lions' first selection at the 2018 national draft, Ely Smith produced a consistent season for the undefeated NEAFL side. The midfielder averaged 19 touches and a goal per outing, demonstrating he was more than capable against senior outfits. Smith will continue to seek opportunities at AFL level while working on his craft in the twos. Unlikely to present as a fantasy selection, we may be twelve months too early with Smith.
Second chapter of Ely
The Lions' first selection at the 2018 national draft, Ely Smith produced a consistent season for the undefeated NEAFL side. The midfielder averaged 19 touches and a goal per outing, demonstrating he was more than capable against senior outfits. Smith will continue to seek opportunities at AFL level while working on his craft in the twos. Unlikely to present as a fantasy selection, we may be twelve months too early with Smith.
The look of Ely
As an inside midfielder, Ely Smith shares a lot of qualities with his new teammate Lachie Neale: strength in the packs, accumulation of clearances, and a lack of speed between contests. The fact that he's got 10cm more height with a nice vertical leap adds another string to his bow. He went at rates of 24 disposals and 88 fantasy points in the TAC Cup last year, and racked up 30 touches with nine clearances in his single appearance at the Championships. The Lions have shown a lot of patience with highly-rated juniors under Chris Fagan, and they are also likely to give Smith the sort of apprenticeship that a first-round pick merits. His lack of positional flexibility plus the addition of Neale and Jarryd Lyons to the engine room, as well as previous first-rounders maturing enough to see them get more centre bounce attendances, probably means he starts in the NEAFL and builds from there.
