Jagga Smith (born 28 January 2006) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
| Jagga Smith | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | 28 January 2006 | ||
| Original team(s) | Oakleigh Chargers | ||
| Draft | No. 3, 2024 AFL draft | ||
| Height | 182 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Carlton | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Playing career | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2025– | Carlton | 0 (0) | |
Junior career
editSmith began playing junior football at the Richmond Junior Football Club in the Yarra Junior Football League.[1] He consistently won the club's best and fairest award for his age bracket, first receiving it in the "Tackers" age bracket (the age bracket below under 10s), and continuing to win the award up to under 13s in 2019.[2]
Smith played for the Oakleigh Chargers in the Coates Talent League during 2023 and 2024. In his initial season at the club he averaged 28.2 disposals, improving in his second season with 33.8 disposals,[3] including a standout game where he recorded 50 disposals.[4] Smith captained the Oakleigh Chargers throughout the 2024 season, and his consistent performances earned him the team's best and fairest award.[5] His form also resulted in an equal-third finish in the season's Morrish Medal count, tying with the Jayden Nguyen and trailing second-placed Cooper Hynes and first-placed Xavier Lindsay.[6] He was additionally named as captain of the 2024 Talent League Team of the Year.[7]
In addition to competing in the Coates Talent League, Smith also played in the Under 18 Championships in 2023 and 2024. Playing for Vic Metro, Smith averaged 24 disposals in 2023 and 29.3 for 2024.[8] In his second season for Vic Metro Smith was given the role as captain as they went on to win the championship. Following the conclusion of the season he was named captain of the 2024 AFL National Championships U18 Boys All Australian Team, and finished second place in the Larke Medal, awarded to the voted best player of the Under 18 Championships.[9]
In the lead up to the draft, Smith played three games for Richmond's VFL side. In his first game at VFL level he recorded a game-high 31 disposals, which he followed up with performances of 27 disposals and 24 disposals in his next two games, further cementing himself as a top draft prospect for the year.[10]
AFL career
editSmith was selected by the Carlton Football Club with pick 3 of the 2024 AFL draft.[11] It was later revealed that the club had rated him as the best player of the draft.[12] He was given the number 7, which had formerly belonged to the recently departed Matthew Kennedy. Smith had worn the number 7 for Oakleigh, and stated that it was his "favourite number".[13]
Personal life
editSmith's father Michael was drafted by Collingwood in the 1988 VFL Draft with pick 53, however he did not play a senior game for the team.[14]
References
edit- ^ "Jagga Smith". Draftguru. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "RJFC Boys / Mixed Best & Fairest". richmondjfc.com.au. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "Jagga Smith". Rookie Me Central. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ Keating, Mitch. "AFL Draft: Pick 1 contender's 50-disposal game, Carlton father-son pair shine in carnival opener". Zero Hanger. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "Jagga Smith". Rookie Me Central. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ "Gippsland duo power to best and fairest awards". afl.com.au. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- ^ "Gippsland duo power to best and fairest awards". afl.com.au. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- ^ "Jagga Smith". Rookie Me Central. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ^ Alvaro, Michael. "2024 AFL Under 18 All Australian team". Rookie Me Central. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- ^ Greenberg, Tony. "Jagga steps up superbly to VFL level". richmondfc.com.au. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- ^ "Pick No.3: Welcome to Carlton, Jagga Smith". carltonfc.com.au. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- ^ Chellappah, Jasper. "Every AFL club's draft haul rated: Who passed? Who failed?". ESPN. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- ^ "Jumper numbers revealed for 2025". carltonfc.com.au. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- ^ McGowan, Marc. "Moves like Jagga: Why hit song means something different to AFL recruiters". The Age. Retrieved 16 December 2024.