Joel Smith

Infobox afl player


firstname = Joel
lastname = Smith


| birthdate = birth date|1977|5|3|df=y
birthplace =
originalteam = Yarrawonga Murray U18
heightweight = 185cm / 87kg
dead = alive
deathdate =
deathplace =
debutdate = Round 3, 16 April 1995
debutteam = St Kilda
debutopponent = Adelaide
debutstadium = Football Park
playingteams = St Kilda (1995-1997)

58 games, 51 goals

Hawthorn (1998-2007)

221 games, 39 goals

coach = notcoach
coachingteams =
statsend = 2007
careerhighlights =

*All-Australian 2001, 2003,
*Hawthorn Best and Fairest 2001
*St. Kilda pre-season premiership team 1996

Joel Smith (born 3 May 1977), is an Australian rules footballer.

Beginning his career in 1995 as a bright young prospect for St Kilda, Smith was touted as the future of the club. He provided 3 good years of service before being incurring a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury requiring reconstruction late in the 1997 home and away season, missing the Saints' finals series.

A contractual dispute meant he moved to Hawthorn at the end of 1997Fact|date=February 2007. While he was injured all throughout 1998 and did not play a game, Hawthorn recognised this talent and kept him on the list.

Smith made his return in the 1999 season and his role at the Hawks was as a running half-back, setting up attacking plays. He has been very successful playing this role throughout his career, and in 2001, won All-Australian selection and the Peter Crimmins Medal. He again won All-Australian selection in 2003, and consistently finished in the top bunch of players in his club's best and fairest award.