Emerging ruck Henry Smith will make his exciting AFL debut for the Brisbane Lions against the Sydney Swans at The Gabba on Sunday.
Smith, taken with Pick 48 in the 2020 NAB AFL Draft from Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL, will become the fourth debutant for the Lions this season.
The 21-year-old who stands at a towering 206-centimetres has been a regular performer in Brisbane’s VFL side this year in both the ruck and up forward.
Lions senior coach Chris Fagan told Smith the news after training on Thursday, which the South Australian-born ruck said was a dream come true.
“I’ve been here for four years now biding my time in the VFL, so to get the call up to run out on Sunday I am over the moon and my family is rapt for me,” Smith said.
“The message from Fages (Chris Fagan) is to keep doing what I have been doing for, play to my strengths, play confident and hopefully the rest can take care of itself.”
With senior rucks Oscar McInerney and Darcy Fort on the Lions list, Smith has had to wait his turn to debut, though in that time he has learnt under their tutelage.
“We’ve got the best ruckman in the competition in ‘Big O’ (Oscar McInerney), so I have been biding my time behind him and Forty (Darcy Fort) in the VFL,” Smith said.
“Now it makes it all worth it in the end and I have been able to apply my craft up forward which I think has been beneficial for my development.
“Oscar has been huge for me since the second I walked in the door.
“We are caddies this year, so we work together closely watching vision, touch work, skills and just trying to get better each day.”
Brisbane Lions General Manager of Football, Danny Daly said Smith had been knocking on the door of selection for a while.
“We are all really happy for Henry to get his chance at AFL level and are really proud of the way he has worked so hard to earn this opportunity,” Daly said.
“Henry has been with us for four seasons now and to his credit he has done everything asked of him by the coaching staff and it’s paid off.
“His VFL form and his work on the training track has highlighted his ability and we are excited to see what he can do on Sunday and in the future for us.
“He comes from a great supportive family and his debut is also a really special occasion for them and one that is a reward for all they have done for Henry as well.”
