Jagga Smith Draft Diary: My Collingwood ties, friendship with Harley Reid and new role

One of the leading draft prospect’s for 2024 has strong links to Collingwood, where his dad was drafted almost four decades ago. Read more in Jagga Smith’s exclusive draft column.

Jagga Smith gathers the footy for Vic Metro during the 2022 under-16 national championships. Picture: Getty Images

Looking back now, it was a dream team.

I was a small 11-year-old who was fortunate enough to be selected as a bottom-age player in a star-studded Victorian side for the under-12 national schoolboys championships in Darwin in 2017.

I had a photo taken with top-age teammates Harley Reid and Nick Watson, who both went on to be top-five draft picks last year.

Harley Reid, Nick Watson and Jagga Smith were part of the Victorian side for the under-12 schoolboys championships in Darwin in 2017. Picture: Supplied

Six years on, the three of us posed for a new photo after playing in Vic Metro’s clash with Vic Country during the under-18 national championships at Ikon Park last July.

Other teammates in that Victorian schoolboys team — which won the Gold Medal game at the tournament — included 2023 draftees Darcy Wilson (St Kilda), Zane Duursma (North Melbourne), Nate Caddy (Essendon) and George Stevens (Geelong).

Entering my own draft year, I’ve now got my sights set on following them to the AFL.

Playing in that schoolboys team was a key moment for me and the first time where I realised I wanted to pursue football as a career rather than a hobby.

Harley Reid, Nick Watson and Jagga Smith at Vic Metro v Vic Country match during AFL under-18 national championships in 2023. Picture: Supplied

I had started kicking a Sherrin around in under-9s at Richmond Junior Football Club only three years earlier, where my dad — Michael Smith — coached me as a junior.

Dad was drafted to Collingwood in the 1988 national draft, moving from Devonport to Melbourne for the opportunity at age 16.

He had plenty of talent but unfortunately never played an AFL game during a strong era for the Magpies, although went on to have a very successful country football career.

I continued my juniors at Richmond before other representative opportunities came along — in two sports.

I also played basketball growing up and represented Vic Metro in under-15s.

Playing basketball helped with my decision making and my ability to go both sides of the body on the football field, but I always felt I was better at footy.

I also knew it would be hard to make it big in basketball as a mid-sized player.

With football, I progressed through the talent pathways with Oakleigh Chargers’ under-16s in the Coates Talent League and represented Vic Metro at under-16 level.

As a Year 10 student, I was picked for Scotch College’s First 18 team, playing alongside Western Bulldogs young gun Sam Darcy.

That led me to the opportunities at the under-18 national championships last year and an appearance on the MCG in the under-17 Futures Game on AFL Grand Final Day.

I played for the winning Team Naitanui that day, before sitting in the stands and watching the Magpies salute.

That was a day I will never forget.

Jagga Smith grew up a Collingwood fan, given his father Michael had been drafted to the club. Picture: Bruce Magilton

BIGGER AND BETTER

Given I finished school at Scotch College last year, there were media stories about lowering the draft age which used me as an example.

But personally I didn’t feel physically ready to be drafted last November.

Adding some upper body strength was a big focus of the off-season to help me better handle bigger-bodied opponents around stoppages.

I’ve started a Business and Sports management degree at Deakin University, but the fact I have completed my Year 12 studies should benefit me this year by allowing me to be more professional.

The training doesn’t stop.

Each week I do two lower body power sessions, two upper body sessions, three main training sessions with the Chargers and an extra session practising goalkicking and touch on my own.

In addition to pre-season training with the Chargers, I had a training camp as part of the AFL Academy squad.

Jagga Smith is part of the AFL Academy this year. Picture: Getty Images

The environment in that squad is ultra-professional and it is great to work alongside some of the best young players in the country.

Through the AFL Academy, myself and Oakleigh teammate Tom Gross also had the chance to train with Richmond in December.

You can’t help but pinch yourself when you get to train alongside superstars like Dustin Martin, but the week at Punt Rd taught me plenty and gave me confidence that I could mix it with AFL players on the track.

Dion Prestia — who had done some coaching at Scotch College — took me under his wing and helped me with my stoppage craft, as well as providing some insight into what it’s like being a midfielder at the top level.

OPPORTUNITY PRESENTS

I’m normally a fairly relaxed person, but I’m sure the adrenaline will start flowing prior to the start of Coates Talent League season.

I’ve played most of my footy as a midfielder who has prided myself on my ability to get from contest to contest and be a one-touch player at ground level and good decision maker in the thick of the action.

This year I’ll be starting the season in a different role as a forward.

Recruiters have mentioned they would like to see me add another string to my bow and it’s a great opportunity to do that.

As an 18 or 19-year-old, it’s very hard to walk straight into an AFL midfield.

You need to have a second position which you can go to start your career.

I did learn some forward craft when I was younger and I love to kick a goal. Who doesn’t?

Jagga Smith celebrates a goal for Team Naitanui during the AFL Futures match in September, 2023. Picture: Getty Images

However, it will still be a change from what I am most familiar with and a new challenge.

I’ll also start the season as the newly-minted captain of Oakleigh, adding to the fresh challenges early in the season.

I sat down and wrote some goals at the start of the year and being a strong and consistent performer in the opening three weeks of the Coates Talent League was one of those.

Enjoying some team success with the Chargers in the form of a premiership is also on the list, as well as having a successful under-18 national championships with Vic Metro in the middle of the year.

It’s not on my goals list yet, but I have also been encouraged to learn to cook this year.

Cooking isn’t one of my strengths and I’ve got some work to do if an interstate club calls my name in November.