DOB
19/7/95

Height
200cm

Weight
97kg

Position
Ruckman

Recruited from
Mt Gravatt (QLD)

Summary
Exciting and athletic ruckman who comes from a basketball background. Has an impressive vertical leap which often allows him to jump over his opponents and get first hands on the ball. A strong competitor who thrives in the physicality of the contest in the air and at ground level.

2013 stats
• Played 5 games for Queensland (U18 Championships)
– averaged 3 kicks, 3 handballs, 1 mark, and 18 hitouts

• Played 8 games for Mt Gravatt / Lions Reserves (NEAFL)  
– averaged 2 kicks, 3 handballs, 1 mark and 12 hitouts

Player comparison
Nic Naitanui (WCE)

AFL Draft Combine testing
Finished first in the running vertical leap (left leg) relative (97cm).
Finished 8th in vertical jump relative (70cm)

What they say
“I’ve been mainly following Nic Naitanui, and see myself as being a similar type of player. I really enjoy the high-flying aspects of the game.” – Archie Smith

“It’s important that Archie realises that there’s no pressure to perform straight away, and that there is scope for greater development in later years.” – Hyundai Lions Academy Manager Luke Curran

"He has got everything a big man requires to play in that ruck position. The thing you don't get too much of with these big players is the aggression in their game but Archie has that and it puts him ahead of the other guys who are coming through. He is still young and developing yet he wants to do everything and that is a great thing. You can tell he is a high achiever.” – Jamie Charman

''In every game you see something improve: his ground balls, his ruck work, his spacing, his positioning. When he started, he had no idea what he was doing. He was just there to jump up in the middle and hit the ball. But his progress has been amazing, and he's a perfectionist. He wants to be really good. If he keeps progressing at this rate, clubs would be mad if they didn't go for him.'' – Queensland U18 Coach, Ray Windsor

Related stories
Academy snares Archie (courtesy of lions.com.au) - http://www.lions.com.au/news/2013-02-13/academy-snares-archie  
Scorpions Smith fast improver (courtesy of aflq.com.au) - http://www.aflq.com.au/index.php?id=5&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=2043&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=129&cHash=babf4e807e
Charman anoints Smith next star (courtesy of couriermail.com.au) - http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/east/afl-premiership-winner-and-brisbane-lions-icon-jamie-charman-marks-archie-smith-as-club8217s-next-star/story-fni9r0lo-1226693430635
Smith torn between two loves (courtesy of theage.com.au) - http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/teen-is-caught-between-two-loves-20130704-2pevv.html