Bernie Smith is a former Australian rules footballer in the SANFL and VFL, who is perhaps best remembered as one of the greatest back pockets in the history of the game. The Charles Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal, is an annual medal awarded to the fairest and best player in the Australian Football League during the regular season (ie. ... The All-Australian Team is an all star team of Australian rules footballers, selected by a panel at the end of each season. ... Australian Rules and Aussie Rules redirect here. ... The South Australian National Football League, or SANFL as it is usually referred to, is the premier league for Australian Rules football in the state of South Australia. ... The Australian Football League (AFL) is the Australian national competition in the sport of Australian rules football. ... In Australian rules football, the back pocket refers to a position on the field deep in defence. ...

SANFL career

Smith commenced his carreer with West Adelaide in the South Australian Football League as a 16 year old in 1945. Playing primarily as a centre, Smith was an outstanding player. West Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club, nicknamed The Bloods in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL). ... The Centre line refers to a set of positions on an Australian rules football field. ...

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[1]. Best and Fairest is the phrase given to players in the Australian Football League (formerly the VFL) that are adjudged to have played the best during the season without being suspended. ... A Grand Final is the culmination of a series of final matches played between a number of sporting teams to decide the premier team. ... The Norwood Football Club, known as the Redlegs, is an Australian Rules football club belonging to the South Australian National Football League in the state of South Australia. ...

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 League. The Australian Football League (AFL) is the Australian national 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 that same season, while for good measure he was among the Cats' best in their grand final defeat of Essendon. The Charles Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal, is an annual medal awarded to the fairest and best player in the Australian Football League during the regular season (ie. ... Essendon Football Club, nicknamed The Bombers, is an Australian rules football club that is part of the Australian Football League. ...

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. Most football games include a position called fullback or full back. ...

"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."^[1]

External Links

• AFL Official player statistics
• Geelong Football Club bio
• West Adelaide bio

References

1. ^ Ross, John (1999). The Australian Football Hall of Fame. Australia: HarperCollinsPublishers, p. 121. ISBN 0 7322 6426 X.