Bella Smith

Bella R. Smith (born 20 September 2001) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for Sydney in the AFL Women's (AFLW). She played for Norwood in the SANFL Women's League (SANFLW) before she was signed to an AFLW contract by Collingwood as an undrafted free agent.

Bella Smith
Personal information
Full name Bella R. Smith
Date of birth (2001-09-20) 20 September 2001
Place of birth Port Lincoln, South Australia
Original team(s) Norwood (SANFLW)
Draft undrafted free agency
Debut Round 1, 2021, Collingwood vs. Carlton, at Ikon Park
Height 182 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s) Defender / Forward
Club information
Current club Sydney
Number 11
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2021–2022 (S6) Collingwood 10 (0)
2022 (S7)– Sydney 10 (0)
Total 20 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the S7 (2022) season.
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Early life and state football

Smith was born in the town Port Lincoln in the Eyre Peninsula.[1] She played junior football for Ports Netball Football club.[2][3] In 2016, she represented South Australia at the Australian Football Under 15 Championship in Maroochydore, wearing the number 20 guernsey, like her father. After this she started playing for Norwood's under-16 side.[4] All together Smith played three seasons for Norwood in the SANFL Women's League (SANFLW).[5] After playing 10 matches in 2019, she decided to focus on playing football.[6]

During her time playing state football, she also represented South Australia, playing for the Central Allies at the 2018 AFL Women's Under 18 Championships, though she was injured in the last match against Vic Metro.[7] The following year, she once again played for the Central Allies at the 2019 AFL Women's Under 18 Championships.[8] She scored a goal in their victory over the Eastern Allies[9] and was one of the best players in their loss to Western Australia.[10]

In September 2020, Smith played for Team Marinoff in the SANFLW All-Stars match,[11] putting in a strong showing in defence, denying certain goals and marking strongly.[12]

As well as football, Smith has played softball and cricket. She played at Port Neill Cricket Club and Kensington Cricket Club. From 2017, she also represented South Australia in their under-18 cricket side.[13] She played junior cricket for three years at national level.[14]

AFLW career

Smith joined Collingwood as an undrafted free agent, following the 2020 AFL Women's draft, re-joining coach Stephen Symonds who had coached her at Norwood.[5][15] Smith played in her first official hit-out in the first practice match of the season, playing against North Melbourne at Ikon Park.[16] Less than two weeks later, she made her debut in the first match of the 2021 AFL Women's season against Carlton at Ikon Park, playing as a forward after playing the pre-season practice match in the ruck and the forward line.[17] In May 2022, Smith left Collingwood to join Sydney, one of the expansion clubs of the 2023 AFL Women's season.[18][19]

Style of play

Smith is originally a rebounding defender, but also has the ability to play up forward as Collingwood used her in the beginning of the 2021 AFL Women's season.[17] She has strong hands and a penetrating left foot.[5]

Personal life

Smith's uncle, Darren Smith, played 302 games for Port Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), winning seven premierships with them[2] and also played two seasons in the Australian Football League (AFL) with Adelaide in their first two years in the competition.[20] She lives in Melbourne with her team-mate Ebony O'Dea.[14] She also works as a teacher's aide at SEDA College.[14]

Statistics
Statistics are correct to the end of the 2022 (S6) season.[21]
Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2021 Collingwood 19600121628690.00.02.02.74.71.01.5
2022 (S6) Collingwood 194009716470.00.02.31.84.01.01.8
Career 10 0 0 21 23 44 10 16 0.0 0.0 2.1 2.3 4.4 1.0 1.6

References
  1. "'They never saw me as a girl': Eyre Peninsula's own trailblazer". The Advertiser. 14 October 2020.
  2. Delaney, Jarrad (8 October 2020). "Verran's Bella Smith drafted to Collingwood AFLW side". Port Lincoln Times.
  3. "Bella Smith". South Australian National Football League. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  4. Herde-Rodda, Trudi (16 August 2016). "Bella Smith played for the South Australian girls football team". Port Lincoln Times.
  5. Mullan, Alanna (8 October 2020). "AFLW: Five new Magpies fly into the nest". Collingwood. Telstra.
  6. Milbank, Zac (18 December 2019). "Norwood Newbies on The Parade". South Australian National Football League.
  7. Catanzariti, Kathrine (17 July 2018). "Bella joins Allies". Port Lincoln Times.
  8. McDonald, Rachel (15 July 2019). "Bella Smith represents SA in AFLW U18 Championships". Port Lincoln Times.
  9. Black, Sarah (8 July 2019). "Under-18 Championships wrap: Victorian teams dominate on day one". AFL Women's. Telstra.
  10. Black, Sarah (10 July 2019). "Under-18 Championships wrap: Vics continue winning streak". AFL Women's. Telstra.
  11. Williams, Peter (12 September 2020). "Marinoff overruns Hatchard in impressive display of skills". Aussie Rules Draft Central.
  12. Williams, Peter (14 September 2020). "Player notes: SANFLW All-Stars". Aussie Rules Draft Central.
  13. Catanzariti, Kathrine (21 November 2017). "Bella represents the state". Port Lincoln Times.
  14. Black, Sarah (26 January 2021). "Bella's big move: Changing states all worth it for young Pie". AFL Women's. Telstra.
  15. Black, Sarah (8 October 2020). "Last four AFLW list spots filled by South Australians". AFL Women's. Telstra.
  16. Mullan, Alanna (15 January 2021). "AFLW: Pies name squad for practice match". Collingwood. Telstra. All six new draftees are set to put on the black and white for their first official hit-out...
  17. Mullan, Alanna (27 January 2021). "AFLW: Three Pies to debut". Collingwood. Telstra.
  18. "O'Dea and Smith to explore opportunities, Purcell departs". Collingwood. Telstra Media. 17 May 2022.
  19. "Steane & Smith commit to Sydney". Sydney Swans. Telstra Media. 18 May 2022.
  20. "Darren Smith". Crows History Locker. Telstra. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  21. "Bella Smith - Player Stats By Season". Australian Football. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
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