Top-10 draft contender Josh Smillie is considered the second coming of Carton’s dual Brownlow medallist Patrick Cripps, but not everything has gone to plan in his final year of underage football.
As a 195-centimetre midfielder who thrives on physicality, Smillie swiftly earned the tag of “Patrick Cripps 2.0” – and entered this year considered a leading chance to be the AFL’s No.1 draft pick.AFL Photos
“Definitely early on, I was all over what was being written about me. I think every boy was,” Smillie told this masthead ahead of next month’s draft.“You see your name in things, and it’s hard because family and friends are very invested in everything I do, which I’m very grateful for. I might be in the paper one day, and my nan prints it out, and she’s very proud.
Smillie might no longer be in the No.1 pick discussion, but there remains plenty of intrigue and optimism about what he could become. Josh Smillie, pictured at the AFL draft combine, is one of the most promising players in the 2024 crop.“When he’s at his best, I think Josh Smillie is the best player in the draft. It’s his ceiling, and what he could be,” Smith said.this year after agreeing to trade Daniel Rioli, Shai Bolton and Liam Baker, are among the clubs most interested in Smillie.
Smillie averaged almost 26 disposals and five clearances, plus 1.3 goals, for Eastern Ranges this past season. His numbers were less gaudy at the national under-18 championships, but he still racked up nearly six clearances and seven score involvements per game. “But if I was thinking about where I was last year , I’d be very proud of myself. There have been some challenges along the way, but I’m pretty proud of the way I’ve gone about it.
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