Katherine Smith (footballer)

{{Short description|Australian rules footballer}}

{{Use Australian English|date=May 2017}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Katherine Smith

| image = Katherine Smith 2019.7.jpg

| caption = Smith playing for Casey Demons in July 2019

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1998|09|28}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| originalteam = Eastern Devils (VFL Women's)

| draftpick = No. 56, 2016 AFL Women's draft

| debutdate = Round 1, 2017

| debutteam = {{AFLW|Mel}}

| debutopponent = {{AFLW|Bri}}

| debutstadium = Casey Fields

| height = 164 cm

| weight =

| position = Midfielder / defender

| currentclub = {{AFLW|GWS}}

| guernsey = 4

| years1 = 2017–2020

| club1 = {{AFLW|Mel}}

| games_goals1 = 21 (2)

| years2 = 2021–

| club2 = {{AFLW|GWS}}

| games_goals2 = 34 (4)

| games_goalstotal = 55 (6)

| statsend = the 2023 season

| careerhighlights =

}}

Katherine Smith (born 28 September 1998) is an Australian rules footballer playing for Greater Western Sydney in the AFL Women's competition. She was drafted by Melbourne with their seventh selection and 56th overall in the 2016 AFL Women's draft.{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2016-10-12/katherine-smith|title=No.56: Katherine Smith|last=Burgan|first=Matt|date=12 October 2016|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=15 May 2017}} She made her debut in the 15-point loss to {{AFLW|Bri}} at Casey Fields in the opening round of the 2017 season.{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-02-03/aflw-all-the-round-one-teams|title=AFLW: All the round one teams|agency=Australian Associated Press|date=3 February 2017|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=15 May 2017}} After the two-point win against {{AFLW|Ade}} at TIO Stadium in Round 6—in which she recorded ten disposals and a mark—she was the round nominee for the AFLW Rising Star.{{cite news|url=http://www.melbournefc.com.au/news/2017-03-14/smith-awarded-round-six-rising-star|title=Smith awarded round six rising star|last=Black|first=Sarah|date=14 March 2017|work=MelbourneFC.com.au|publisher=Bigpond|access-date=15 May 2017}} She played every match in her debut season to finish with seven games.{{cite web|url=http://australianfootball.com/players/player/Katherine%2BSmith/19946|title=Katherine Smith|work=AustralianFootball.com|access-date=15 May 2017}}

Melbourne signed Smith for the 2018 season during the trade period in May 2017.{{cite web|title=AFLW: All the clubs' full lists after trade period – AFL.com.au|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-05-26/aflw-all-the-clubs-full-lists-after-trade-period|website=afl.com.au|access-date=26 May 2017|date=26 May 2017}} She suffered an ACL injury in December 2019, and missed the entire 2020 season. She joined the {{AFLW|GWS}} Giants during the 2020 trade season, traded for draft picks 29 and 42, and played her first game for the Giants on 27 February 2021.{{cite web |title=Smith Officially Becomes a Giant |date=26 February 2021 |publisher=GWS Giants |url=https://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/868540/smith-officially-becomes-a-giant |access-date=27 February 2021}}{{cite web |title=Smith Becomes a Giant |date=6 August 2020 |publisher=GWS Giants |url=https://www.gwsgiants.com.au/news/790251/smith-becomes-a-giant |access-date=27 February 2021}} On 23 February 2022, Smith became the first player in AFL Women's history to kick a match-winning goal after the final siren in the Giants' Round 7 match against {{AFLW|StK}}.{{cite web|url=https://www.womens.afl/news/86953/final-siren-heartbreak-as-giants-snatch-victory-from-saints|title=Final siren heartbreak as Giants snatch victory from Saints|publisher=AFL Women's|work=AAP|first=Sophie|last=Welsh|date=23 February 2022|accessdate=24 February 2022}}

Smith is currently studying a Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science/Bachelor of Business (Sport Management) at Deakin University.{{cite web |title=Elite Athlete Program Profiles |url=https://www.deakin.edu.au/students/get-involved/elite-athlete-program-profiles |publisher=Deakin University |access-date=10 August 2020}}