Two clubs, a knee reconstruction, and a COVID hub, it’s been a hell of a ride for GIANTS defender Katherine Smith who on Sunday will play her 50th AFLW game.
Selected in the inaugural AFLW draft by Melbourne in 2016, Smith played 21 games for the Demons before joining the GIANTS ahead of the 2021 season following a year on the sidelines with a ruptured ACL.
Now in her fourth season in orange and charcoal, Smith will bring up the special milestone when the GIANTS look to take down the Kangaroos at Arden Street Oval on Sunday.
“I’m definitely super proud,” the 25-year-old said ahead of her 50th AFLW game.
“It’s been a long journey and had lots of ups and a few downs but I’m super proud and I’ve been very grateful for the opportunity that I’ve had.
“Obviously I started at the Melbourne Football Club and I’m always very thankful for my time there and I absolutely love being a GIANT so I’m super stoked that I’ve ended up here and can’t wait for the future.”
A part of the AFLW’s inaugural season, Smith says she’s loved being a part of the evolution of the women’s game since debuting as a fresh-faced teenager in 2017.
“It’s amazing to see the growth,” she said.
“Being 18, it was my childhood dream [to play in the AFLW] so that was an absolute dream come true, and that first season, it was incredible as everything was new and exciting.
“To see now where it is now, with the 10 games [in a season] and the growth in terms of the games, the contracts, every team having a side in the competition, it’s been massive and been super awesome to be a part of it and to contribute to that.
“Sometimes we forget how kicking a ball on the weekend with your mates means so much for the wider population and women’s sport in general.”
Making the big decision to uproot her life from Melbourne to Sydney back in 2020, Smith has zero regrets about leaving the Demons to join the Orange Tsunami.
“It was a hard decision as I loved my time at the ‘Dees and I’m always really grateful for that,” she said.
“It was a decision around a lifestyle change and broadening my horizons and doing something different in my life.
“I wanted to be at a club that was super competitive and worked really hard and had lots of grit, so it was pretty easy to come to Sydney with the beautiful beaches, the weather, and have a football club that was really based on care and relationships.
“Coming here was a great decision,” Smith said.
“It’s been interesting because I went into a hub straight away and I was coming off an ACL and you bond with the playing group a little bit more than you normally would through the experiences we’ve had.
“It’s really special to be part of this group and the relationships that we’ve built kind of make every step that little bit better.”
After being voted into the GIANTS’ leadership group for the first time this season, the former Vic Metro captain has one clear aspiration in the role.
“I definitely want to instil belief in the playing group,” Smith said.
“I genuinely believe our game plan will hold up and we’ll have great success in the future and so it’s about how can I help everyone else and empower them to be the best fearless player they can be on the field.”
“When you’ve got Tarni Evans intercept marking, ‘GG’ (Georgia Garnett) kicking crazy goals, we’ve got Izzy (Huntington] back, and when she kicks her first goal, I think it’s going to start raining goals.
“I think we have such an amazing group of individual talents so it’s just making sure we can believe in what we are doing and the gameplan we have.”
Smith is optimistic the GIANTS’ success can begin on Sunday with victory over third-placed North Melbourne in her milestone match.
“We are fully confident that we can win this week,” she said.
“If we stick to our game plan and compete at the contest then I have no doubt we can win.
“I think it’s time for us to win and I think it’s the start of hopefully a few more wins for the rest of the season.”
The GIANTS and the Kangaroos will clash at 1:05pm on Sunday at Arden Street Oval.
