Playing Career: 1973 - 1974
Debut: Round 20, 1974 v Fitzroy, aged 22 years, 207 days
Carlton Player No. 849
Games: 2
Goals: 0
Guernsey No.: 41 (1973 - 1974).
Last game: Round 21, 1974 v Essendon, aged 22 years, 214 days
Height: 180 cm
Weight: 70 kg
DOB: January 22, 1952
One of 8 Smiths that have played for Carlton since joining the VFL in its Foundation year of 1897, Anthony (Tony) Smith played 2 consecutive games in 1974 in the #41 jumper.
Anthony Joseph Smith born January 22, 1952, known as Tony and nicked name “Joey”.
Cleared to Carlton from Natte-Bealiba (north of Avoca) on May 1, 1970. He had also attended St. Pats in Ballarat.
Listed as No. 15 in the Under 19s for the Round 15 (July 11) match against North Melbourne at Waverley (first under 19 curtain raiser at Waverley). He was listed in Carlton Under 19s best players in Round 5 to Round 8 and scored a goal in Round 7 (against South Melbourne).
Played 12 Under 19 games for Carlton during the 1971 season (named in Carlton’s best players in 5 of these games and scored 3 goals for the season) and was first listed on the Senior list in Guernsey No. 51 on May 1, 1971 (Rd 5 against St. Kilda) named in Carlton’s best reserve players against Essendon at Windy Hill in Round 13.
Still listed as No. 51 for the 1972 season and was also awarded with the Mrs Jean Cook Most Improved player Award in the Reserves. He was named in Carlton’s best Reserve 10 games including the Preliminary final, scored 4 goals for the season including 2 against Collingwood in Round 13. In the Reserve finals he was selected on the wing and listed as weighing 11.7.
Moved to No. 41 for the 1973 season and finished equal 6th in Carlton Reserve grade best and fairest award, named in Carlton’s best in 10 games and scored 2 goals named on the wing in the Elimination final and listed as weighing 11.5.
Still in No. 41 he made his League debut in Round 20 (August 17) 1974 against Fitzroy at Princes Park named on the wing and was listed as being 5’11” (180cm) and at 11 stone (70kg) and became the 848th Carlton senior player in the League. He was aged 22 years and 207 days old. Played the next week in his last match at Waverley against Essendon (again listed on the wing) when Carlton lost by 6 points and was aged 22 years and 214 days old. (Peter ‘Percy’ Jones was his captain in both games, John Nicholls had ‘retired’ and Robert Walls was injured.) He was named in Carlton’s best Reserve players in 6 games including the Reserve semi final and scored 1 goal in the Reserves and listed as weighing 11.5.
On April 12, 1975 Carlton cleared him to Brunswick in the VFA and was a member of their 1975 2nd Division premiership side and listed as a ruck rover.
Smith also wore No.51 (1971 - 1972) when he played with Carlton's reserves team.
Career Highlights
1972 - Mrs Jean Cook Most Improved Reserve Player Award1973 - Equal 6th Reserves Best & Fairest
Links
Articles: The Carlton SmithsBlueseum: Summary of playing statistics for Tony Smith | Smith's Blueseum Image Gallery