Blink and you'll miss Jagga Smith. Amongst a glut of talented midfielders at the top of the board, Smith presents as the most exciting on-baller in 2024's AFL Draft.
Last year, playing for Scotch as a 17-year-old, Smith was tagged by Matthew Lloyd's Haileybury in the APS, such was his accumulating potency. He led defiantly from the front for an underwhelming Oakleigh group, and 12 months on has been named captain. But the games that proved his credentials were at the top level when he blitzed the national carnival as a bottom-ager for Vic Metro. In his two matches in the Big V he averaged 24.5 disposals, and his 7.5 score involvements trailed only Tasmanian top-10 draftees Colby McKercher and Ryley Sanders.
Smith had stood tall in a Chargers team that lacked top-age quality all last season. With contested craft belying his light frame, the Richmond local won the ball 30 times a game (at over 12 contested possessions) as Oakleigh slogged through a rare losing season in the Coates Talent League. His stop-start acceleration and wicked side step helps him exit the contest cleanly and silky disposal off his favoured right boot draws the leading forward into space.
Smith isn't bash and crash like Power star Zak Butters, but they share eerily similar movement through congestion, snaking into space with a burst of speed and carving out polished disposal forward of the contest. Smith's first instinct is always to move forward, not backwards or sideways. He takes the space afforded with his legs, drawing defenders and executing by hand or foot under pressure.
Butters possesses the rare ability to fly out of contests at full pace but still find teammates in pockets with elite vision and deft touch. No midfielder since his 2018 draft year has shared those qualities quite like Smith, who plays the game at full tilt for four quarters. Smith's performances emulate the coveted new-age midfielder who evades would-be tacklers and explodes forward of the stoppage; a must-have on-baller to counter the pressure cauldron modern footy presents.
On Saturday, Smith again reminded the football world of his talents in an AFL Academy hitout against Footscray. He display all of the qualities that make him a certain pick on the first night of November's draft.
In one blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment, Smith sharked the centre bounce tap, toe-poking the ball towards a teammate before bouncing to his feet to provide an option. He swooped on an errant handpass, palming the ball in his nondominant hand as the seasoned Caleb Poulter lined him up. In one motion, he secured the Sherrin, blind-turned out of Poulter's grasp and burst forward of the stoppage before lacing out Jobe Shanahan on the lead inside 50.
Jagga Smith (#12) at his creative best on Saturday vs Footscray. Remarkably gifted with ball in hand playing on instinct.
— Jasper Chellappah (@Jasperc53) April 29, 2024
Full player profile on Jagga dropping tomorrow @ESPNAusNZ, but I'm interested to know who he reminds you of 💫🤔 #AFLDraft pic.twitter.com/BUZJGp3jE7
That play is a microcosm of all of the cleanliness, dare, acceleration and class Smith brings to the fore.
As a midfielder with star-factor traits, it doesn't get much better.
The 181cm dynamo will need to physically mature before entering the centre square full-time at the next level. He can get pushed off the ball too easily and needs more penetration in his kick. But Smith's pressuring intent and defensive transition is impressive for a ball magnet that finds his way to 30-plus possessions more often than not. Smith's defensive application will not need to be trained, and he owns footy pedigree, with his father Michael drafted to Collingwood in 1988.
That same Tasmanian duo -- a year advanced from Smith -- were the only players to average more disposals per contest last year, and Smith has picked up where he left off with 20 classy touches and a goal against Footscray.
Clubs have Smith locked into the top 10 of their big boards at this early juncture. With a big campaign his star will only continue to rise.