Darren Smith (Australian rules footballer)
Encyclopedia
Darren Smith is a former Australian rules football
er who played for Port Adelaide
in the South Australian National Football League
(SANFL) and Adelaide in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
Smith arrived in Adelaide from the Eyre Peninsula
and after playing under-age football, broke into the Port Adelaide
seniors in 1984. He topped Port's goal-kicking in 1986 and 1987, with 49 and 71 goals respectively, ending the sequence of nine leading goal-kicker awards from Tim Evans
. Essendon acquired the centre half forward's services when they picked him up with pick 11 in the 1989 VFL Draft
but the move didn't work out and he resumed at Port Adelaide.
When Adelaide entered the AFL in 1991, Smith was one of their local recruits and he performed well in their inaugural with two goals and ten marks against Hawthorn. Two rounds later he played his best game for Adelaide when he had 24 disposals and kicked four goals and five behinds in a win over Sydney at the SCG, with his fellow Port Adelaide key forward Scott Hodges
bagging six of his own.
He soon lost his place in the team and spent most of the remainder of the season as well as the next, in the SANFL before being delisted. By the time he retired, after the 1996 SANFL Grand Final
win, Smith had appeared in seven premiership teams with Port Adelaide, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995 and 1996. He had also joined Russell Ebert
and Greg Phillips
as the only Port players to appear in 300 SANFL games.
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 who played for Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
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 Adelaide in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL).
Smith arrived in Adelaide from the Eyre Peninsula
Eyre Peninsula
Eyre Peninsula is a triangular peninsula in South Australia. It is bounded on the east by Spencer Gulf, the west by the Great Australian Bight, and the north by the Gawler Ranges. It is named after explorer Edward John Eyre who explored some of it in 1839-1841. The coastline was first explored by...
and after playing under-age football, broke into the Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
seniors in 1984. He topped Port's goal-kicking in 1986 and 1987, with 49 and 71 goals respectively, ending the sequence of nine leading goal-kicker awards from Tim Evans
Tim Evans
Tim Evans is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Geelong in the Victorian Football League and Port Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League ....
. Essendon acquired the centre half forward's services when they picked him up with pick 11 in the 1989 VFL Draft
1989 VFL Draft
The 1989 VFL Draft was the fourth annual National Draft held by the Victorian Football League as the main method for the 14 teams to recruit players for the 1990 season. It consisted of a trading period, pre-draft selections, the main national draft and the 1990 pre-season draft and a...
but the move didn't work out and he resumed at Port Adelaide.
When Adelaide entered the AFL in 1991, Smith was one of their local recruits and he performed well in their inaugural with two goals and ten marks against Hawthorn. Two rounds later he played his best game for Adelaide when he had 24 disposals and kicked four goals and five behinds in a win over Sydney at the SCG, with his fellow Port Adelaide key forward Scott Hodges
Scott Hodges
Scott Lyall Hodges is a former Australian rules footballer and champion goal kicker who holds the SANFL record for most goals kicked in a league season when he kicked 153 goals in 1990...
bagging six of his own.
He soon lost his place in the team and spent most of the remainder of the season as well as the next, in the SANFL before being delisted. By the time he retired, after the 1996 SANFL Grand Final
1996 SANFL Grand Final
The 1996 South Australian National Football League Grand Final saw the Port Adelaide Magpies defeat the Central District Bulldogs by 36 points. The match was played on Sunday 6 October 1996 at Football Park in front of a crowd of 46,120....
win, Smith had appeared in seven premiership teams with Port Adelaide, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1995 and 1996. He had also joined Russell Ebert
Russell Ebert
Russell Ebert is acknowledged as one of the greatest players in the long history of Australian rules football.Born in Berri, South Australia, Ebert debuted for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the South Australian National Football League as an 18 year old in 1968 and immediately made an...
and Greg Phillips
Greg Phillips
Greg Phillips is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Port Adelaide FC in the SANFL and had a stint with Collingwood in the VFL during the 1980s. He also played 20 interstate matches for South Australia....
as the only Port players to appear in 300 SANFL games.