Rohan Smith
Encyclopedia
Rohan H. Smith is an Australian rules football
er in the Australian Football League
.
Debuting in 1992 after being recruited around 1990, Smith has long been one of the Bulldogs
' favourite sons, with his reputation rising during the mid-1990s when he became one of the best half-backs in the league. In 1997 he cemented this reputation by earning All-Australian selection.
in Altona North
, Victoria
.
documentary in 1996, drastically improved in 1997 with the club being renamed from Footscray to the Western Bulldogs and seemingly a new dawn arising with a Grand Final
berth likely. He also had a little girl named Keely Shea Smith and in 1999 had a son named Jacob Harrington Smith.
With the Bulldog's surrender of a big lead, Smith is best remembered for encapsulating the feelings of the team after the loss, on his knees in the middle of the Melbourne Cricket Ground
, punching the turf.
, to set up a 300th game for Smith which he would share with other long serving veteran and one of Smiths best friends at the club Scott West. Oddly enough, this event ensured that Smith and West were the only team mates in AFL history to share their 300th game in the same match.
Unfortunately that game would be his last, with the Bulldogs going down by 74 points, away to West Coast
. An emotional Smith was chaired off the Subiaco Oval
where he received a standing ovation, a testament to his illustrious career.
Rohan Smith now resides in Williamstown
with his wife Alison and his two children.
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 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...
.
Debuting in 1992 after being recruited around 1990, Smith has long been one of the Bulldogs
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
' favourite sons, with his reputation rising during the mid-1990s when he became one of the best half-backs in the league. In 1997 he cemented this reputation by earning All-Australian selection.
Early life
Smith attended St. Paul's CollegeEmmanuel College: St. Paul's Campus
The Emmanuel College: St. Paul's Campus is a Roman Catholic Independent school for boys located in the Melbourne suburb of Altona North. It a branch of one of Emmanuel College's education facilities.- History :...
in Altona North
Altona North, Victoria
Altona North is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 10 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hobsons Bay...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
.
1997
The 1997 season was the most eventful for Smith and his team, which made a preliminary final. Despite a four point lead in the last quarter, the Bulldogs had victory stolen from them by Adelaide. The battling club, which was the subject of the Year of the DogsYear of the Dogs
Year of the Dogs is a 1997 documentary detailing the 1996 season of the Footscray Football Club .Filmed during the turbulent 1996 season where they finished second-last in the Australian Football League, the documentary follows the club and two dedicated fans, Pat and Jenny Hogson...
documentary in 1996, drastically improved in 1997 with the club being renamed from Footscray to the Western Bulldogs and seemingly a new dawn arising with a Grand Final
AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is an annual Australian rules football match, traditionally held on the final Saturday in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia to determine the Australian Football League premiership champions for that year...
berth likely. He also had a little girl named Keely Shea Smith and in 1999 had a son named Jacob Harrington Smith.
With the Bulldog's surrender of a big lead, Smith is best remembered for encapsulating the feelings of the team after the loss, on his knees in the middle of the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
, punching the turf.
Later career
Smith again won All-Australian selection in 2003 and in recent seasons has been noted for his longevity in the game, at 33 years of age still being a valuable member of a young Bulldogs side. However, he had noticeably lost some of his pace during the 2006 season, and announced his retirement before the start of the finals series in 2006. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,20364313-23211,00.html There was talk of him continuing a further year if he was stuck on 299 games, but he insisted that he would retire at the end of the season, regardless of his games tally. Fortunately, the Bulldogs won their first final, against CollingwoodCollingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
, to set up a 300th game for Smith which he would share with other long serving veteran and one of Smiths best friends at the club Scott West. Oddly enough, this event ensured that Smith and West were the only team mates in AFL history to share their 300th game in the same match.
Unfortunately that game would be his last, with the Bulldogs going down by 74 points, away to West Coast
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
. An emotional Smith was chaired off the Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval
Subiaco Oval , known colloquially as Subi, is the highest capacity sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia...
where he received a standing ovation, a testament to his illustrious career.
Rohan Smith now resides in Williamstown
Williamstown, Victoria
Williamstown is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 8 km south-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hobsons Bay. At the 2006 Census, Williamstown had a population of 12,733....
with his wife Alison and his two children.