Archie Smith (footballer, born 1995)
{{Short description|Australian rules footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Archie Smith
| image = Archie Smith 2019.1.jpg
| caption = Smith in April 2019
| fullname = Archibald Smith
| nickname = Archie, Arch
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|07|19|df=y}}
| birth_place = Brisbane, Australia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| originalteam = {{NEAFL MG}} (NEAFL)
| draftpick = No. 69, Academy selection, 2014 rookie draft
| position = Ruckman
| statsend = Round 18, 2020
| careerhighlights = 3x NEAFL premiership player (Brisbane Lions reserves): 2013, 2017, 2019
| debutdate = Round 19, 2016
| debutteam = {{AFL BL}}
| debutopponent = {{AFL PA}}
| debutstadium = the Gabba
| height = 202 cm
| weight = 105 kg
| years1 = 2014–2021
| club1 = {{AFL BL}}
| games_goals1 = 16 (4)
| heightweight =
}}
Archibald Smith (born 19 July 1995) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Early life
Smith was born in Brisbane on 19 July 1995, the son of former NBA and NBL basketball player Andre Moore. Smith himself played junior basketball at an elite level and was courted by multiple Division One colleges in the United States before being scouted by AFL recruiters at the age of 17.{{Cite news |last=Whiting |first=Michael |date=2013-12-01 |title=Son of a gun Archie Smith gives hoop dreams the drop punt |work=AFL.com.au |url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-12-01/smith-punts-hoop-dreams |access-date=2017-09-26}} Despite having no prior Australian rules football experience, Smith drew interest from recruiters due to his supreme athleticism for his size. He attended St Laurence's College in South Brisbane throughout his teenage years.{{Cite web |last=Heslehurst |first=Brayden |date=2016-11-09 |title=Brisbane Lions rising star Archie Smith says tasting AFL football in 2016 has him wanting more |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/southeast/brisbane-lions-rising-star-archie-smith-says-tasting-afl-football-in-2016-has-him-wanting-more/news-story/dcaeaf0effee0938ead0c5d2a7c17b90 |access-date=2018-12-08 |website=Courier-Mail}}
Football career
Smith was drafted by the Brisbane Lions with their third selection and sixty-ninth overall in the 2014 rookie draft as an Academy selection.{{Cite web |last=Boswell |first=Tom |date=November 28, 2013 |title=Archie Smith has been rookie listed by AFL club Brisbane Lions and likened to Nic Naitanui |url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/southwest/archie-smith-has-been-rookie-listed-by-afl-club-brisbane-lions-and-likened-to-nic-naitanui/news-story/f289e7827c1990d4399a0a634ab6923f |website=Courier Mail}} He made his debut against {{AFL PA}} in round 19, 2016 in a near best-on-ground performance, gathering 19 disposals and 30 hit outs at the Gabba.{{Cite web |date=2016-08-01 |title=Player of the Round: Archie Smith |url=https://www.lions.com.au/video/351045/player-of-the-round-archie-smith?videoId=351045&modal=true&type=video&publishFrom=1470029862001 |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=Brisbane Lions}}{{cite news |last=Akers |first=Trenton |date=29 July 2016 |title=Brisbane youngsters Archie Smith and Sam Skinner will feel opposite emotions when the Lions play Port Adelaide |work=The Courier Mail |publisher=News Corp Australia |url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/afl/teams/brisbane/brisbane-youngsters-archie-smith-and-sam-skinner-will-feel-opposite-emotions-when-the-lions-play-port-adelaide/news-story/68540749740605ada8631aa2ca43fd49 |access-date=30 July 2016}}
Smith won three premierships with the Lions in the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) in 2013, 2017 and 2019. Following the win over Southport in the 2019 NEAFL grand final, he became the first (and subsequently only) player to win three flags at NEAFL level.{{Cite web |last=Hunter |first=Ben |date=2019-09-19 |title=Triple the fun for history-maker Archie Smith |url=https://www.neafl.com.au/news/triple-the-fun-for-history-maker-archie-smith-118073 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318212808/https://www.neafl.com.au/news/triple-the-fun-for-history-maker-archie-smith-118073 |archive-date=18 March 2020 |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=North East Australian Football League }}
Personal life
Smith is one of 6 children, with siblings Gemma, Sebastian, Isaac, Abib and Violet. In November 2020, Archie's brother, Sebastian, died by suicide at the age of 21. Subsequently, before every game, Smith wrote his late brother's name on his wrist as a motivational tribute. Smith also advocated for suicide prevention in his brother's memory as an ambassador for Lifeline Australia.{{Cite web |last=Whiting |first=Michael |date=2021-07-18 |title='He's what I do it for': Archie Smith opens up on devastating year |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/648837/hes-what-i-do-it-for-archie-smith-opens-up-on-devastating-year |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=AFL.com.au |language=en}}
Smith announced his retirement from the AFL at the end of the 2021 season, citing a desire to prioritise mental well-being and family.{{Cite web |last=Whiting |first=Michael |date=2021-09-20 |title='I’ll always be a proud Lion': Ruckman retires after eight-year career |url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/678983/-i-ll-always-be-a-proud-lion-ruckman-retires-after-eight-year-career |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=AFL.com.au |language=en}} He married his longtime partner Sophie in October 2021, and the couple welcomed their first child, Montgomery, in April 2022, and second child, Lincoln in September 2024.
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Brisplayer}}
- {{AFL Tables|ref=A/Archie_Smith1.html}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{2014 AFL rookie draft}}
{{2020 AFL rookie draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Archie}}
Category:Australian people of African-American descent
Category:Brisbane Lions players
Category:Mount Gravatt Football Club players
Category:Australian rules footballers from Queensland
Category:People educated at St Laurence's College
Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen
{{AFL-bio-1990s-stub}}