Welcome to the club Roarke Smith (Pick 5 Rookie Draft)

[Wizard17]

Keep some chat regarding Roarke here guys so it ain't lost in the pessimism of the rookie draft thread.

Welcome to Roarke Smith

182cm Defender from the Calder Cannons



Highlights:

http://m.westernbulldogs.com.au/video/2014-12-03/rookie-draft-roarke-smith-highlights

 

[Wizard17]

Looks like he has some toe from that and is quite aggressive.

That first passage

 

[hatescaptcha]

Calder Cannons winger Roarke Smith snapped up in AFL rookie draft by Western Bulldogs

• TIM MICHELL
• SUNBURY LEADER
• DECEMBER 03, 2014 12:42PM

Smith flies for a mark against Northern Knights earlier this year. Picture: Mark Wilson

A CAREER that started as a Kangaroo will include a stint at the kennel after Calder Cannons winger Roarke Smith was drafted by the Western Bulldogs in Wednesday’s AFL rookie draft.

Smith was one of the first players chosen in the draft, selected with pick No. 5 by the Bulldogs.

The Sunbury Kangaroos junior had just arrived back in Melbourne from the Gold Coast in time for his phone to run hot with messages of congratulations.

“I just had a call from my mum, she was watching it,” Smith said.

“My phone is just going nuts.

“That’s when I realised something had happened.”

Smith said he had spoken with the Bulldogs several times in the lead-up to the draft.

“I’d had a few phone calls from them and a few interviews,” he said.

“I didn’t think I’d go so early, which was pretty cool actually.

“I’m actually nice and relaxed at the moment.”

The 18-year-old said he wanted to improve his leadership skills at Whitten Oval.

Calder region manager Ian Kyte said Smith’s focus narrowed in 2014 as an AFL opportunity became a realistic target.

“Roarke, it’s going to be an interesting one for him because he’s really going to have to knuckle down,” Kyte said.

“He worked pretty hard in the past 12 months to give himself this opportunity and now he’s got to continue that.

“The year before he wasn’t as committed as he probably needed to be, but he figured out if he was going to get anywhere he was going to need to work hard.”

Smith was a favourite of Calder’s 2014 coach Andrew Jago, impressing with his run and carry and penetrating left boot.

He received the club’s coaches award after playing 16 TAC Cup games.

Smith was one of two Cannons chosen in the rookie draft, with tall utility Reilly O’Brien headed to Adelaide.

Kyte said Calder was considering listing about eight 19-year-olds next year, including defender Luke Ryan, forward Callum Moore and ruckman Mark Kovacevic.

The trio were overlooked in Wednesday’s draft, despite attracting interest from AFL clubs.

 

[ManOfClay]

Has all the tools. I like him

 

[Wizard17]

Comes from up in my neck of the woods too.

 

[womble54]

Sounds relaxed! If he works hard he looks like he has the tools to make it. Welcome aboard sir!

 

[Wizard17]

http://www.northernweekly.com.au/story/1829232/afl-rookie-draft-roarke-smith-picked-up-by-bulldogs/

Calder Cannons' Roarke Smith had an inkling he was going to the Western Bulldogs in the AFL rookie draft, with the club saying it was best he cut his schoolies trip short.

“I had a few phone calls with them over the last week and they said 'make sure you keep fit, eat right and sleep well',” he said on Thursday.

“I was at schoolies yesterday and they said 'we think it’s best that you come home', which I did.

“I had been up there early with my old man, so I had had my fun.

”The decision to come home was the right one for Smith when the Bulldogs took him at pick five in the rookie draft.

“I only told two of them [his mates at schoolies] what I was doing.

“I told the others I had a job interview. I didn’t want people to expect me to be picked up and be disappointed if I didn’t.

“A few of them called me after the draft asking why I didn’t tell them.”

Smith, who also plays for the Sunbury Kangaroos, was set to pull on the boots for the Collingwood VFL side if he didn’t get drafted.

“I spent two weeks down there and really enjoyed it; I was looking forward to playing with them.

“The Dogs are a lot more convenient in location and I could not be happier.“I start training at 7.30am tomorrow [Thursday] morning.”

Surprisingly, Smith is the first player to be drafted from the Sunbury Kangaroos.

“It is unbelievable and feels amazing and it’s a huge achievement for myself and the club.

“They worked hard on me through my juniors and kept me fit. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.”Kangaroos coach Chris Meacham wasn’t surprised to see Smith drafted.“We are very happy for him," Meacham said.

“We’ve had a few kids who have been good enough but don’t have the work ethic, but Roarke has that.

“He has his head screwed on. If his AFL dream hadn’t worked out, it wasn’t the end of the world and he would have kept trying.”

“His family are part of the heart and soul of the club.”

 

[doggies ftw]

Hopefully those articles put the rumours to rest that he's a shit bloke because he made a few jokes on twitter.

Really like this kid a lot, looks like he's got pace, a good long kick and a bit of aggression to the way he plays.

 

[timtamWB]

Sounds pretty good from all reports, hopefully another rookie draft success for us!

 

[Turtle3]

Welcome Roarke!!
Sounds like he's grown up a bit in the last 12 months. Hopefully he continues to mature, work hard and grab this opportunity with both hands.

 

[Wizard17]

See that tackle in the highlights there's a little bit of the other Smith in it. Ferocious.

Cue the days of us getting the two Smiths mixed up with one another ought to give some good laughs every now and then

 

[TempleKelvington]

Well I had never heard of him, so they did it to me again. Never fails! He looks ok from the footage I saw. Nice mover and once again another kid who can kick the footy. Good job.

My suspicion is as mentioned in another thread that the reason he was drafted a rookie is based solely on the ponytail. I just hope he has some tatts to balance the ledger.

Now I want to see what ManofClay calls him.

 

[#1 Dogs Fan]

For me he comes across as abit of an x-factor, he has a few tricks and really looks enthusiastic and creative with good speed..
I like this pick

 

[ManOfClay]

Now I want to see what ManofClay calls him.

The anti-Bailey Dale (Two first names). Two last names.

Will be confusing as they are both lanky blondes with a bit of toe

 

[Aucklander]

Awesome pick up. Well done Doggies.

 

[Dav1d]

Believe in the Bun!

 

[dogwatch]

Hopefully those articles put the rumours to rest that he's a shit bloke because he made a few jokes on twitter.

Really like this kid a lot, looks like he's got pace, a good long kick and a bit of aggression to the way he plays.

Time to re-calibrate the tongue-in-cheek meter dftw!
He's allowed his little joke on Twitter and we're allowed ours on BF.*
(At least we used to be )

* I concede that one or two might have been serious, but I think most were just amused.

 

[True Dog]

I feel another successful "Roarkie" draft selection here boys & girls..........

 

[King Harold]

Believe in the Bun!

I want to , and am trying , but sadly I come from the wrong era !
He looks ok though , other than the bun

 

[Norm De Guerre]

“I had a few phone calls with them over the last week and they said 'make sure you keep fit, eat right and sleep well.”

“I was at schoolies..."

Probably did lots of push ups!

 

[Easty]

I see him being a really loose cannon. Looking forward to buckling up for the ride.

 

[giblj]

Everyone who has actually seen him play seems to like him a lot, so that excites me. From the highlights he looks a decent size, quick, and a good kick.

We've interviewed him several times and although he went to schoolies he went with his dad, so I'm not too concerned with his character because of some dodgy jokes on twitter. Unless his dad is a massively loose drug dealer or something.

 

[Igloo]

Everyone who has actually seen him play seems to like him a lot, so that excites me. From the highlights he looks a decent size, quick, and a good kick.

We've interviewed him several times and although he went to schoolies he went with his dad, so I'm not too concerned with his character because of some dodgy jokes on twitter. Unless his dad is a massively loose drug dealer or something.

His dad was sitting behind me at the TAC cup GF (for the first 3 quarters, anyway). In my expert opinion, he seemed like an alright guy.

Case closed

 

[ManOfClay]

Unless his dad is a massively loose drug dealer or something.

Dustin Martin and his old man spring to mind

 

[RedWhite&Blue]

He moves and plays like Shaggy although I reckon he's a better kick - Could be a beauty!