Josh Smith is not certain how many goals he kicked in his two-year career with Redland, but he can tell you very smartly his total in his 26 games with Collingwood.

And that “sealer” on Saturday night – his fifth for the Magpies - in the all-important clash with Hawthorn ranks as “one of the better ones I’ve kicked”.

Sorry Josh, don’t like to dispute you – but it was THE best.

A left-foot snap across the body; at the MCG; in front of 55,000 mostly adoring fans; icing the game against a side Collingwood has not beaten in coach Nathan Buckley’s six years at the club.

It must be THE best.

“My good friends at Redland will tell you each time I kick a goal I tend to celebrate pretty hard,” Smith said this week.

“I’ve got a bit of a head wobble going on at the minute,” he confirmed.

His good friends at Redland can vouch for his celebratory powers, but all were thrilled he was able to produce such a beauty in such a big game, that seemed to be way out of the Pies’ reach when they trailed by 43 points in the second quarter.

If there was one thing Smith was not prepared for it was Buckley’s quarter-time burst after the Pies had been held to 0.1 against Hawthorn’s opening quarter six-goal burst.

The under-siege coach delivered a massive blast at the players as he should have considering the timidity they had displayed in that opening 30 minutes.

“It was easily one of the best that I’ve been on the end of as a team, that’s for sure.

“Bucks is normally cool and calm, but we’d really let ourselves down and deserved it, that’s for sure.”

“We didn’t plan for that first quarter to be like that.

“It was shocking.”

The comeback, while, not entirely unexpected amid the playing group, certainly surprised many.

Once the Pies settled and put a halt to Hawthorn’s run, there was a feeling “we’d run over the top of them”.

And when Collingwood kicked the last four goals of the match to win by 18 points – that’s a 61-point turnaround – Smith described it as “easily one of the best wins in my time”.

It was the Pies’ fourth-biggest comeback in the club’s history and the first time they had beaten the Hawks since the 2011 preliminary final.



Smith celebrates his goal against the Hawks on Saturday night. Picture: AFL Photos.

After making his debut on Anzac Day last year in front of almost 90,000 fans at the MCG, Smith has played every game with the Pies since – except for this year’s return bout on Anzac Day.

Being omitted for such a big occasion clash was a bitter disappointment, but in typical Smith style, he took his punishment by playing well in the VFL and winning his way back the next week.

He has been a model of consistency since with Saturday’s game his best this season.

Smith says it is vital he maintain consistency.

“That first year it’s all exciting and like a whirlwind and you get a bit of a license from the coaching staff to get out and play.

“Playing in that Anzac Day match the feeling was amazing.

“It’s as close to a grand final as you can get and I couldn’t think of a better day to debut on.

“It’s a bit different in the second year and the big thing is being consistent and playing your role.”

The last 18 months has been one heck of a ride for the former Toowoomba junior.

He thought he might have been drafted earlier – he was a 21-year-old mature age recruit when the call came from Collingwood, but he’d never given up hope at any stage.

He’d gone through all the State Age programs, played well with Morningside in the NEAFL and when they folded at that level, accepted an invitation from Marty King to come over to Redland.

“When I came across to Redland I’d had it in my mind that I could still get drafted.

“Marty and I had a good relationship and it was his influence that helped – he simplified my game, helped me to enjoy my football more and taught me not to put so much pressure on myself.

“I loved it at Redland – the club was massive for me.

“It was the most fun I’d had playing football and I made a lot of great mates, who I still keep in touch with.”

He’ll be back here next month to celebrate his and Lauren’s engagement – the couple will be married after this football season and he’s expecting to meet up with several of his former teammates.

Smith watches as many Redland games as he can when they are streamed and thought the Bombers were super impressive against Brisbane Lions.

“That was a really good effort.

“It’s a matter of stringing a few wins together and things can turn around.”

He equates Redland’s predicament as much like Collingwood’s where both teams need to play with more consistency in a bid to get on that ever-important roll.

Finals are still on Smith’s and Collingwood’s radar (the Magpies are 3-6) and he says the Bombers (1-5) should have the same inclination.



A trio of former Redland players. Josh Thomas, Adam Oxley and Josh Smith all joined the Magpies from the NEAFL.

It’s incredible that Smith is one of three former Redland players with Collingwood.

Adam Oxley’s career has stalled through injury and he recently underwent surgery to clean up some hip and groin problems, while Josh Thomas is back and firing with the VFL side after completing his two-year suspension.

Smith would love for all three of them to be out there at the MCG with Collingwood playing one of their regular big-time matches.

It might be a bit fanciful.

But who knows? There were some who said his time had passed him by, but he was surely not among them.

He has a supreme self-belief and with just a little bit of luck and a touch of good fortune it might still happen.

Goalkicking footnote: Smith kicked 7.11 in 2014 and 9.16 in 2015 for Redland for his grand total of 16.27 in his 37 games. Is it any wonder he celebrates with gusto when one goes through?

Article was originally posted on senior.redlandafc.com



Smith celebrates his first goal for the Magpies - a huge one on ANZAC Day 2016. Picture: AFL Photos.