Bernie Smith
Encyclopedia
Bernard Keith "Bernie" Smith (19 December 1927 – 21 April 1985) was an Australian rules football
er in the South Australian National Football League
(SANFL) and VFL
, who is perhaps best remembered as one of the greatest back pocket
s in the history of the game.
in the SANFL as a 16 year old on 28 April 1945. Playing primarily as a centre
, Smith was an outstanding player.
He won the Best and Fairest
award for West Adelaide in 1947, the same year that he played in their Grand Final
triumph over Norwood
, in which he was widely acknowledged as the best player afield.
Also in 1947 Smith represented South Australia at the interstate carnival, attracting the attention of the Victorian club, Geelong.
. Moved to the back pocket by coach Reg Hickey in 1951 he won both the club best and fairest award and the Brownlow Medal
that same season, while for good measure he was among the Cats' best in their grand final defeat of Essendon
.
In combination with the dashing Fullback
Bruce Morrison he created a sturdy defensive wall, and started the forward moves going again with his precision kicking. Under their leadership the Geelong defence was so strong that rival coaches had to turn their minds to finding ways through to goal.
"Bernie Smith had a big smile, fair curly hair and looked like a country boy playing a country game of football. It seemed, however, that everywhere that Bernie went the ball was sure to go.
"He was immensely popular around the club and his adopted city of Geelong."
In 1996 Smith was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL) and VFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
, who is perhaps best remembered as one of the greatest back pocket
Back pocket
In Australian rules football, the back pocket refers to a position on the field deep in defence.Back pocket players, situated in the backline, need to have good spoiling skills and usually, quality back-pockets are noted for their hardness....
s in the history of the game.
SANFL career
Smith commenced his career with West AdelaideWest Adelaide Football Club
West Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League . Commonly known as The Bloods and Westies, the clubs home base is City Mazda Stadium located in Richmond, an inner-western suburb of Adelaide.-Early Years :West Adelaide was formed in...
in the SANFL as a 16 year old on 28 April 1945. Playing primarily as a centre
Centre line
The Centre line refers to a set of positions on an Australian rules football field.It consists of 3 players, two on the wings , and one in the centre....
, Smith was an outstanding player.
He won the Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
award for West Adelaide in 1947, the same year that he played in their Grand Final
Grand Final
Grand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
triumph over Norwood
Norwood Football Club
Norwood Football Club, nicknamed, Redlegs, is an Australian rules football club belonging to the South Australian National Football League in the state of South Australia...
, in which he was widely acknowledged as the best player afield.
Also in 1947 Smith represented South Australia at the interstate carnival, attracting the attention of the Victorian club, Geelong.
VFL career
Smith was recruited to Geelong for the 1948 season and played centreman during his first few years in the (then) Victorian Football LeagueAustralian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
. Moved to the back pocket by coach Reg Hickey in 1951 he won both the club best and fairest award and the Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
that same season, while for good measure he was among the Cats' best in their grand final defeat of Essendon
Essendon Football Club
The Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
.
In combination with the dashing Fullback
Fullback (Australian rules football)
In Australian rules football, the fullback position has traditionally been a purely defensive role, with the aim of preventing the full-forward from marking the ball and scoring. However, in recent times, where the ability to move the ball out of defence and down the field quickly has become a more...
Bruce Morrison he created a sturdy defensive wall, and started the forward moves going again with his precision kicking. Under their leadership the Geelong defence was so strong that rival coaches had to turn their minds to finding ways through to goal.
"Bernie Smith had a big smile, fair curly hair and looked like a country boy playing a country game of football. It seemed, however, that everywhere that Bernie went the ball was sure to go.
"He was immensely popular around the club and his adopted city of Geelong."
In 1996 Smith was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Australian Football Hall of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established...
.