For the past nine seasons straight at much the same rate, Isaac Smith has performed admirably as a key driver for the club's offence. He produced a slight increase in disposal output in 2019, although he struggled to impact the scoreboard in the same way in kicking 15 less majors. Entering the 2020 season aged 31, Father Time will begin to have a say on the speedster's exploits. A supremely durable player throughout the past decade, Smith has been a dependable fantasy option but his average is creeping below the midfielder baseline. Hard to pick him.
The hook of Isaac
For the past nine seasons straight at much the same rate, Isaac Smith has performed admirably as a key driver for the club's offence. He produced a slight increase in disposal output in 2019, although he struggled to impact the scoreboard in the same way in kicking 15 less majors. Entering the 2020 season aged 31, Father Time will begin to have a say on the speedster's exploits. A supremely durable player throughout the past decade, Smith has been a dependable fantasy option but his average is creeping below the midfielder baseline. Hard to pick him.
Isaac Smith has been one of the positional victims of the Hawthorn season, asked to play further up the ground to help out a midfield desperately missing their Brownlow Medallist in the centre and subsequently losing touch in front of goal. Breust has often been asked to rotate in the centre in previous years as part of Al Clarkson's policy of flexibility, but this season that strategy has failed when it comes to his personal form, often getting lost in games trying to impact in two parts of the ground and managing success in neither.
Isaac Smith has always been an elite runner on the outside, making a living out of doing wind sprints up and down the wings of the MCG, with a tank so big that no tagger can go with him. In the decimated Hawthorn midfield this season, however, he has had to play a bit more inside to help out the young and inexperienced engine room, plus a few duties on a HFF which tends to limit his scoring. Perhaps an outing against the lowly Blues will kickstart his season.
Weighty tome of Isaac
Dashing wingman Isaac Smith enjoyed another excellent season as he led the push back to finals for the resurgent Hawks. Displaying outstanding durability, missing just three fixtures in the prior six seasons, Smith became a regular goal kicker in 2018 with a personal best 24. Tasked with providing pace and spread to the midfield division, Issy will be relied upon to exploit the wide expanses of the MCG, a role few others at the club can perform. Selected as a mature-ager in the 2010 National Draft, it remains to be seen whether Smith can buck the trend that becomes apparent for many as they cross the 30 year threshold. The injury to Tom Mitchell is unlikely to affect Smith, as he is of greater use as a receiver outside from stoppage. With no apparent sign of slowing during the last campaign, expect similar performance for the next twelve months. Selection in the middle third of the draft is warranted.
Hawks on Isaac's back
The Hawks' reliance on their outsider speedster had never been greater after Bradley Hill departure, and Isaac Smith repaid the faith in 2017 to average the most inside 50s at the club, indicating his importance to the team's scoring chances. Nick Robertson was the only opponent to place an effective tag on him all season. There are no prizes for guessing the winger’s greatest trait is his running capacity, but the club has also been treated to a supremely durable player. Over the past five seasons, Smith has missed just three matches including a perfect record since 2016. A dependable choice who is well worth a selection as a sixth or seventh midfielder.
