|
Ross Smith is
arguably Hampton Rovers AFC's most well known player. Smith
played for the Rovers until 1960 before moving to St.Kilda
in the VFL in 1961. In 1960, Smith was captain of the
Hampton Rovers Under 19's and won the best & fairest.
Smith's career
proved the value of persisting. Smith took several years to
blossom as a rover although his courage and determination
were never in doubt. He didn't make the Saints' senior list
at first but after a great game for the seconds he won
promotion for the second round.
It wasn't until
the preliminary final of 1966 that his career kicked into a
higher gear. He starred in the Saints' win and was part of
the flag side a week later. In 1967 he consistently turned
in tireless roving displays and was a prolific kickwinner.
He earned his first Victorian guernsey and then bolted away
to win the Brownlow with 24 votes. His improvement was
illustrated by the fact that in six previous seasons he had
scored only six votes.
Smith won his
second club championship in 1971 and was tipped to win a
second Brownlow. He played in the 1971 runner-up team that
year. He captained the Victorian side at the 1972 carnival
and led the Saints from 1970 to 1972. Smith played a total
of 234 games for the Saints and kicked 231 goals.
He then went to
WA as coach of Subiaco for three years and coached the club
to a flag. He returned to St Kilda as assistant coach and
was talked out of retirement when the club suffered
injuries. He coached the Saints for a year in 1977.
Player profile © The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers by
Russell Holmesby and Jim Main |
