Ross Smith
North Melbourne
AFL career
224 games36 goals
- Debut
- R4 1984 v GEE23 Apr 1984
- Most recent
- R15 1996 v COL13 July 1996
Stats
1996 | NTH | 3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 4.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 14 |
1995 | NTH | 25 | 10.7 | 5.0 | 15.7 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 54 |
1994 | NTH | 24 | 9.1 | 2.6 | 11.7 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 42 |
1993 | NTH | 21 | 10.3 | 3.9 | 14.2 | 3.6 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 53 |
1992 | NTH | 18 | 11.8 | 3.9 | 15.7 | 2.7 | 0.4 | 1.2 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 53 |
1991 | NTH | 11 | 9.8 | 4.1 | 13.9 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 49 |
1990 | NTH | 20 | 11.0 | 3.6 | 14.6 | 2.5 | 0.8 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 54 |
1989 | NTH | 20 | 11.6 | 2.4 | 14.0 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 52 |
1988 | NTH | 10 | 11.8 | 3.1 | 14.9 | 4.0 | 0.7 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 56 |
1987 | NTH | 22 | 13.0 | 2.4 | 15.3 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 58 |
1986 | NTH | 10 | 10.6 | 2.2 | 12.8 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 0.7 | - | 0.1 | 0.2 | - |
1985 | NTH | 21 | 10.8 | 3.6 | 14.4 | 2.7 | 1.5 | 1.3 | - | 0.3 | 0.1 | - |
1984 | NTH | 19 | 11.7 | 2.9 | 14.7 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 1.3 | - | 0.4 | 0.5 | - |
Bio
Recruited from Jacana in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, Ross Smith established himself as a model of consistency and discipline for North Melbourne over a distinguished thirteen-season career. A close-checking defender and run-with specialist, Smith was the type of player coaches loved for his selfless application to defensive tasks and his ability to shut down dangerous opposition forwards. He was a fixture of the Kangaroos' backline throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, renowned for his courage and reliability rather than flashiness, playing a vital role in the club's resurgence as a finals force under Denis Pagan.
Despite his durability and service—amassing over 200 games for the club—Smith’s career ended with one of football's cruelest narratives. After being a cornerstone of the playing list for over a decade, he managed only three games in his final season of 1996 due to injury and form, ultimately missing out on selection for the Premiership side that defeated Sydney. While he missed the ultimate on-field glory, he is remembered at Arden Street as a loyal "heart and soul" stalwart who helped build the defensive culture that underpinned the club's golden era.
Profile
- Full name
- Ross W. Smith
- Born
- 03 Feb 1965 (age 61y 260d)
- Height
- 184 cm
- Weight
- 87 kg
Teams
Family
- Son:Jesse Smith
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from Jacana in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, Ross Smith established himself as a model of consistency and discipline for North Melbourne over a distinguished thirteen-season career. A close-checking defender and run-with specialist, Smith was the type of player coaches loved for his selfless application to defensive tasks and his ability to shut down dangerous opposition forwards. He was a fixture of the Kangaroos' backline throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, renowned for his courage and reliability rather than flashiness, playing a vital role in the club's resurgence as a finals force under Denis Pagan.
Despite his durability and service—amassing over 200 games for the club—Smith’s career ended with one of football's cruelest narratives. After being a cornerstone of the playing list for over a decade, he managed only three games in his final season of 1996 due to injury and form, ultimately missing out on selection for the Premiership side that defeated Sydney. While he missed the ultimate on-field glory, he is remembered at Arden Street as a loyal "heart and soul" stalwart who helped build the defensive culture that underpinned the club's golden era.