September 7, 2017 is a date I will never forget.

It was the 10th minute of the first quarter of our Qualifying Final against Greater Western Sydney when my knee twisted as I attempted to tackle.

I’d never done a knee before, but straight away I knew something wasn’t right.

Scans the next day confirmed the bad news – a ruptured ACL – and that I would be sidelined for a year.

To have to watch on during last year’s finals series, and in particular the Grand Final, was really difficult for me.

All I wanted to do was be out there with my teammates, but I was helpless.

When I had the surgery, the surgeon Will Duncan told me it would be a 12-month injury.

Straight away I said to him it has to be 11 months because I wanted to be back playing in 2018.

As soon as I had the surgery I set out with this goal in mind.

After hours, days, weeks and months of work in the pool, on the bike and in the gym I was able to get out and train with the boys for the first time in May.



Smith on the training track in early May

From there I slowly progressed and started to join in more drills and eventually I got back into contact training in June.

I remember in my first full main training session Tex cleaned me up and it didn’t affect me, which gave me a real confidence boost.

Here we are, 10 and a half months after the surgery and it’s the eve of my first game back.

There are plenty of emotions going through my head at the moment but the overwhelming one is just excitement.

Put simply, I am pumped to be able to get back to playing the game I love and look forward to running out next to my teammates.

I haven’t actually played a game of SANFL since 2013 and that was before we had our own State League side.

It hasn’t all been smooth sailing.

Earlier in the year, I went to America to see renowned rehab specialist Bill Knowles.

When I returned I had a bit of a setback where my knee blew up a bit and meant I couldn’t do much running.

It was about the same time as Round One, so I had to watch on as all my teammates were gearing up to play and I felt like I was going backwards.

Thankfully, we were able to sort the issue out pretty quickly and since then we’ve had no hiccups, touch wood.

They say a week is a long time in football, well 10 and a half months feels like a lifetime.

One of the most important things for me along the way was to set myself small milestones.

Last year I watched one of my good mates Cam Ellis- Yolmen go through the same thing and this was his best piece of advice.

Things like the first run, achieving little goals in the gym like being able to hop, jump and those sorts of things.

I’d set goals in 4-5 week blocks of training, try and achieve them, have a few days off and then go again on the next block.

Being able to break up the rehab like this was something that definitely helped.

I was also lucky enough to be an assistant coach for the SA Under 18s team which gave me something to focus on which was away from training.



Smith looks on at the AFL Under 18 Championships. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Media

To be involved with the next generation of talent was something that helped develop my skillset off the field and allowed me to grow as a person.

One of the things I haven’t missed is the weekly pressure that goes with playing AFL football.

A usual week for me would consist of a team review, a defenders review, an individual review as well as all the external noise.

The pressure to perform can sometimes be a lot to handle, so to have a year away from that has been refreshing in a way.

At the same time, it’s been really difficult for me to see the team struggle in the first part of the year knowing there wasn’t a lot I could do.

I think our recent form has been pretty good and the boys have got some real confidence back, so fingers crossed we keep putting the wins on the board and you never know what might happen.

I’m obviously pretty keen to play some finals football so that is still my goal.

One thing I do want to do is say thank you to a whole range of people who have supported me through the past year.

My teammates have been outstanding throughout the whole process and each in their own way have helped to keep me positive.

Harto was at my house every day walking my dog, Lairdy got me a little gift pack which was awesome and Cam Ellis- Yolmen was with me every step of the way.

With the injuries we’ve had this year I’ve actually had a bit of company in the rehab group with blokes like Crouchy, Tex, Sloaney, Knighta and Gov all spending time with me.

The physios, doctors and coaches, led by Duncan Kellaway, have been outstanding in how they’ve looked after me and my training program.

A special shout out needs to go to our welfare manager Emma Bahr who has always been there for me.

During the finals last year I was in a pretty dark place and she helped me get through that and eventually set goals that kept me in a positive mindset and speed up my recovery.

Obviously my family and friends were amazing as well giving me the space I needed but pushing me when it was required.

Last but not least I want to thank our Crows fans. Your support through the whole thing has been amazing, whether that’s a message on social media or stopping me and encouraging me on the street, everyone has got around me.

I cannot wait to pull on the Crows guernsey again tomorrow and hopefully I see everyone out on Adelaide Oval sooner rather than later.