Sydney Swans premiership defender Nick Smith farewelled the game at the end of last season and is back at his beloved club before the next campaign has even begun.
The 2014 All Australian has taken on a role as QBE Sydney Swans Academy development coach, a position in which he’s helping nurture the club’s young talent in a part-time capacity.
Smith developed a reputation as one of the best small defenders in the league in his 211-game career, shutting down Eddie Betts, Cyril Rioli, Steve Johnson and a host of other champion small forwards.
And as he looks to make a success of his foray into coaching, he says he’s relishing the opportunity to help mould the next generation.
“It’s really exciting to be back after not being away for too long,” Smith said.
“I’m really enjoying helping out the young guys and always have. It’s really good to be back helping players at the club I played at for 13 years.
“I think I can offer a lot with my craft as a defender. I wasn’t the most talented bloke but I had a few tricks that worked for me over a long period of time, so it’s about passing on those little things I’ve learned.
“I think coming out of the game and going straight into coaching will also really benefit me as I’ve got a strong rapport with the players.”
Smith’s stellar career ended on a disappointing note when he announced his retirement in August due to a serious hamstring injury.
The Victorian tore the hamstring tendon off the bone in Sydney’s clash with Melbourne at the MCG in Round 21, 2018, and despite undergoing three bouts of surgery and countless hours of rehabilitation, he wouldn’t play another career game.
As he enters into life as a coach, he’s working with the second-youngest list in the AFL and the third-least experienced squad.
As of Round 1, Sydney’s average list age will be 23.54 – Gold Coast will have the youngest with 23.41 – while its games-played average is 55.6, making the Swans more experienced than only Gold Coast (52.08) and Fremantle (54.11).
The Swans added six youngsters to their list in November in draftees Dylan Stephens, Will Gould, Elijah Taylor, Chad Warner, Brady Rowles and Barry O'Connor.
Smith is impressed with what he’s seen of the young Swans on the track, but he’s issued a challenge on the cusp of the 2020 campaign.
“They’re training well and you have to train well to be a good player, but there have been plenty of guys who’ve trained well but who haven’t been able to translate that into games,” Smith said.
“Will Gould, Dylan Stephens and Brady Rowles have all stood out on the track since I started. It’s now about taking that strong footy and showing it on game day.”
