Len Smith
Fitzroy and Melbourne
AFL career
95 games55 goals
- Debut
- R5 1934 v NTH4 June 1934
- Most recent
- R12 1945 v GEE7 July 1945
Coaching career
107 games53 wins52 losses2 draws
- First
- R1 1958 v NTH12 Apr 1958
- Most recent
- R3 1965 v STK1 May 1965
Stats
Bio
The older brother of Melbourne icon Norm Smith, Len Smith began his VFL career with the Demons but found limited opportunities before crossing to Fitzroy in 1937. It was at the Maroons that he established himself as a highly intelligent centreman and utility, respected for his astute reading of the play and leadership capabilities which eventually saw him appointed captain-coach. While he was a serviceable player who contributed 55 goals over his 95-game career, Smith’s profound influence on the sport far exceeded his playing statistics. Regarded as a tactical visionary, he is credited with developing the possession-based, running style of play that revolutionised Australian football, laying the strategic groundwork that would underpin Richmond's dynasty in the late 1960s shortly after his coaching career was cut short by heart problems.
Profile
- Full name
- Len V. Smith
- Born
- 09 Feb 1912
- Died
- 23 July 1967 (aged 55y 164d)
- Birthplace
- Fitzroy North, VIC
- Deathplace
- Coburg, VIC
- Height
- 180 cm
- Weight
- 75 kg
Teams
Coaching
- Fitzroy (Senior Coach)1958–196292 games (W50 L40 D2), 54.3%
- Richmond (Senior Coach)1964–196515 games (W3 L12 D0), 20.0%
Family
- Grandson:Wayne Harmes
- Brother:Norm Smith
- Nephew:Peter Smith
Bio
1 revisionThe older brother of Melbourne icon Norm Smith, Len Smith began his VFL career with the Demons but found limited opportunities before crossing to Fitzroy in 1937. It was at the Maroons that he established himself as a highly intelligent centreman and utility, respected for his astute reading of the play and leadership capabilities which eventually saw him appointed captain-coach. While he was a serviceable player who contributed 55 goals over his 95-game career, Smith’s profound influence on the sport far exceeded his playing statistics. Regarded as a tactical visionary, he is credited with developing the possession-based, running style of play that revolutionised Australian football, laying the strategic groundwork that would underpin Richmond's dynasty in the late 1960s shortly after his coaching career was cut short by heart problems.