Junior Sports Star: From Aussie Rules to athletics and rugby, Ethan Smith plays them all
ETHAN Smith’s enthusiasm for all things sport was evident from his first footy game with the Coogee Dolphin’s under-6s.
Southern Courier
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ETHAN Smith’s enthusiasm for all things sport was evident from his first footy game with the Coogee Dolphin’s under-6s.
“He scored a try and proceeded to run under the rope and tell me all about it, step by step,” dad Martin Smith said. “I said congratulations, now get back out there and do it again!”
The Kingsford 12-year-old did just what his father told him and scored tries consistently over the next two years, before switching to rugby union with the Clovelly Eagles when he was eight because it was a tackling game.
He is this week’s Junior Sports Star nominee.
This year Ethan was selected to represent Randwick in the state rugby tournament, and the Combined Independent Schools team.
His true calling though is AFL, which he started in under-7s with the Maroubra Saints, before being selected for the Swans Academy at age 10.
“My main goal is AFL – I love playing all the other sports as well, but the reason I do that is to improve my skills to put into my Aussie rules,” Ethan said.
The committed Waverley College Year 6 student has just wrapped up playing representative cricket, plays basketball and has started running training.
“I’m running so I can build up speed – I really like going fast, and AFL is a nice quick game” Ethan said.
He was also part of the NSW CIS AFL squad that won the NSW PSSA tournament this season for the first time in the competition’s 38-year history, his biggest achievement to date.
Ethan now has his sights set on the state nippers championships with his club the Coogee Minnows hoping to repeat his triple silver medal haul from the 2015-16 competition.
Junior Sports Star is sponsored by Rebel and recognises young athletes and their achievements in sport.
Young Sporting Spirit is sponsored by Simonds Homes and Team Spirit is sponsored by Sports TG.
To nominate an athlete visit juniorsportsstar.com.au
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