Hedley Smith turns heads with stunning five-goal VFL debut for Coburg

Hedley Smith couldn’t have wished for a better VFL debut after getting a call-up from Division 2 suburban football to Coburg and the Fitzroy Stars forward is hungry for more.

Hedley Smith celebrates a goal on his VFL debut with Coburg. Picture: Eleanor Armstrong

For some the step up from Division 2 suburban football to VFL might be overwhelming.

For Coburg debutant Hedley Smith, it was anything but.

The crafty forward kicked five goals in his first game for the Lions in Round 10 after being called up from Northern Football League Division 2 club Fitzroy Stars.

Replacing the injured Sam Lowson, Smith showed himself more than capable of playing at the level and is hungry for more.

“It was good to finally get a game and to kick five was a bonus,” he said.

“To get a win would have been better but to come and start like that was great.

18 possessions, 5 tackles, 3 score assists and 5 goals!Not a bad debut at all!For his outstanding effort first up,...

Posted by Coburg Football Club on Monday, 10 June 2019

“I thought I’d be more nervous than I was.

“The step up was a lot faster but the boys’ support on the ground, the talk, was amazing.

“It wasn’t overwhelming. I really like the level and I feel I fit in really well here.”

Coburg came up 17 points short against Northern Blues at Preston City Oval but Smith was one of the shining lights.

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The small forward finished with 18 disposals, six marks and five tackles to go with his game-high five goals.

Smith arrived in Melbourne three years ago from Western Australia and joined Fitzroy Stars.

He landed on Coburg’s radar during the 2017 pre-season as part of the Lions’ alignment with Fitzroy.

Coburg general manager Sebastian Spagnuolo said Smith was a fantastic role model and proof hard work pays off.

Hedley Smith in action for Coburg. Picture: Eleanor Armstrong

Hedley Smith in action for Fitzroy Stars. Picture Andrew Tauber

“Hedley was cut in 2017 but returned in 2018 and just blew our coaches away with the work he’d done on his game and fitness,” he said.

“He’s the second player from the system to play for Coburg … and it shows the program is providing VFL opportunities to indigenous talent.”

Rivva Karpany was the first to debut as part of the development alignment, playing three games in 2017.

Smith credited the Stars for his rise to VFL ranks and hoped his journey continued.

“I’d missed about three years of football in WA and came over to Melbourne — the capital of football, I think — and decided to get back into it (with Fitzroy),” he said.

“(My teammates) they were all rapt, getting around me after my debut.

“I think most of the boys’ goal in VFL is to see how far we can take our footy.

“Definitely, in the future I’d love to get to that level (AFL).”

Smith and his Coburg teammates faced a huge test in Round 11 on Saturday when they take on Richmond at Holm Park in Beaconsfield.

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