Injured defender Brodie Smith off free-agency list with three-year deal with Crows

ADELAIDE has signed one of its four free agents - injured defender Brodie Smith who has extended his contract to the end of the 2021 AFL season.

Brodie Smith at Crows training. The injured star has signed on for another three years. Picture: Calum Robertson

• Crows present SuperCoach dilemma
• Gibson warning to teammates
• Allan expects AFLW standard to rise
• Ongoing pain derails Broadbent preseason

INJURED Crows defender Brodie Smith is off the AFL free agency list - that includes Adelaide vice-captain Rory Sloane - by signing a three-year contract extension at West Lakes.

Smith, 26, will most likely become a one-club player by extending his tenure with the Crows to the end of the 2021 season.

The first of the three years in the new deal will be spent in recovery as Smith works his comeback from the serious knee injury he suffered in the AFL qualifying final win against Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval in early September.

Brodie Smith after rupturing his ACL against Greater Western Sydney at Adelaide Oval in September. Picture: Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images

Smith on the Crows preseason camp at Broadbeach, Gold Coast this week. Picture: Adelaide Football Club.

The 2014 All-Australian declared his pleasure in the new contract removing any uncertainty on his football future.

In a club-prepared statement, the South Australian says: “It’s been a difficult offseason for me with the knee reconstruction, but to be able to agree to a new deal is both comforting and exciting.”

And despite his right to use free agency - that might have been limited by the knee injury - Smith emphasised his eagerness to remain a Crow. He said: “I couldn’t imagine playing football anywhere else and I will be doing everything I can to get back out on the park with my team-mates as quickly as I can.”

The No. 14 pick in the AFL’s 2010 national fraft, Smith has 143 senior games to his record after moving to the national league from SANFL club Woodville-West Torrens.

Crows list manager Justin Reid recognised Smith as “one of the AFL’s most damaging running defenders”.

“He’s approached his rehabilitation with a fantastic attitude and we look forward to him getting back to playing,” Reid said.

It comes after 2017 club champion Matt Crouch extended his contract with the Crows by three years last month.

Adelaide now has three 2018 free agents on its list - Sloane, David Mackay and Richard Douglas.

[e-mail]