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A premiership Hawk is heading down the highway to join arch-rival Geelong. But are the best days behind Isaac Smith?
Career High SuperCoach Score: 147 Vs Port (2015)
Career High AFLFantasy Score: 151 Vs Port (2015)
Career High SuperCoach Average: 90.8 (2014)
Career High AFLFantasy Average: 96.5 (2015)
Impact on New Club
The Cats have netted themselves one of the premier wingmen in the competition. Despite 2020 being a difficult year for the Hawks, Issac Smith ranked above average for disposals; metres gained and score involvements.
His inclusions into the Cats midfield unit means someone like Mak Blicavs who spent plenty of time across the wings moves back to a key defensive role.
This will be even more likely with Harry Taylor following Gary Ablett’s trend and calling time on his career. Isaac is a perfect inclusion into a Cats game style which prides itself on executing high with skills.
His ability to run and carry, plus get into damaging outside positions will mean he’s a perfect player to deliver the ball lace out to Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron.
Impact on Old Club
By all media reports, the Hawks wanted to keep him. But he’s decided to give himself the best chance of another flag by heading down the highway. What his departure does do is immediately impact the outside polish and ball movement of the Hawthorn midfield,, which is very one-paced.
Jaeger O’Meara, Tom Mitchell, James Worpel and Liam Shiels is strong top four mids, but they lack in breakaway speed and class. Tom Scully is already part of the outside contingent of the Hawks but is a shell of himself compared to his peak at GWS, so he isn’t the solution. Jarmen Impey looms as a likely replacement coming off the back of an ACL injury he adds poise and speed.
They could also look at Finn Maginness who they drafted at pick 29 last year. He’s an endurance runner with clean hands and certainly needs to be given plenty of chances at AFL level.
Equally, they could look to push Will Day up from the backline,, and after Damon Greaves and Jack Scrimshaw, both played well in the opportunities. Day is an elite ball user and looks very composed.
Finally, they might choose to select Tanner Bruhn at pick four in the draft. While maybe it’s a handful of picks early, he’s arguably the most classy player in the draft.
Fantasy Summary
it’s been a long time since Isaac Smith was relevant in the salary cap versions of the game. Beyond his debut season (2011) where he averaged 80 across the formats, it would have to be the season from a few years ago where he was MID/FWD.
An adjusted average of 81 in AFLFantasy and 74 last year in SuperCoach was a little down on his previous years where he averaged mid 80’s. I forecast him to return his scoring back into the mid to high 80’s making him draft relevant, as a relatively late pick.
Depending on the sizes of squads in leagues as a last on midfield option, or depth he still has a scoring ceiling that could prove handy.
