Injured Adelaide Crow Brodie Smith the defensive coach for state under-18s

INJURED Crows defender Brodie Smith is adding a new string to his bow, helping coach the state under-18s this season.

Brodie Smith is helping coach the state under-18s this season as he recovers from a knee reconstruction. Picture: Calum Robertson.

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INJURED Crows defender Brodie Smith is helping coach the state under-18s this season.

The All-Australian, who is recovering from an ACL injury in last year’s AFL finals series, is the defensive coach of the state junior team under head coach Tony Bamford.

Bamford has replaced long-serving coach Brenton Phillips in charge of the program this season and has brought a fresh look to the panel.

Former Sturt midfielders Ben Nelson and Ben Kane have joined experienced assistants Peter Fitzgerald and Chris Smelt for the national championships which begin in June.

“I wanted to bring some younger guys in and Ben Nelson and Ben Kane have been good,” Bamford said.

“And with Brodie I spoke to him about helping out and he was really keen. I thought he would do just the one session a week but he’s keen to do more than that.

“Unfortunately for him (he’s injured) but fortunate for us, so he’s been to our academy camp and will be at training next week.”

Nelson and Smelt will take charge of the midfield while Kane is coaching the forwards group.

SA’s extended under-18 squad is expected to be named this week and will train together on Monday before an internal trial game on May 13.

Its first game of the national championships is against WA at Alberton on June 7 followed by Vic Country at Thebarton Oval on June 17.

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