Brisbane will unearth a new face when it takes on ladder-leaders Sydney on Sunday at the Gabba, with emerging ruck Henry Smith making his debut.
Forced to wait for his opportunity, Smith has been developing his craft since being taken with Pick 48 in the 2020 NAB AFL Draft from Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL.
The 21-year-old who stands at a towering 206cm has been a regular performer in Brisbane's VFL side this year in both the ruck and up forward.
Smith follows in the footsteps of Logan Morris (Round 8), Bruce Reville (Round 8) and Shadeau Brain (Round 9) as debutants for the Lions in 2024.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan informed the youngster of the news on Thursday, which was received with pure joy and excitement.
โI've been here for four years now biding my time in the VFL, so to get the call up to run out on Sunday I am over the moon and my family is rapt for me,โ Smith said.
โThe message from Fages (Chris Fagan) is to keep doing what I have been doing for, play to my strengths, play confident and hopefully the rest can take care of itself.โ
With senior rucks Oscar McInerney and Darcy Fort on the Lions list, Smith has had to wait his turn to debut, though in that time he has learnt under their tutelage.
โWe've got the best ruckman in the competition in โBig O' (Oscar McInerney), so I have been biding my time behind him and Forty (Darcy Fort) in the VFL,โ Smith said.
โNow it makes it all worth it in the end and I have been able to apply my craft up forward which I think has been beneficial for my development.
โOscar has been huge for me since the second I walked in the door.
โWe are caddies this year, so we work together closely watching vision, touch work, skills and just trying to get better each day.โ
Smith has been averaging 16.8 disposals, 5.4 marks, 18.5 hit-outs, 2.9 tackles and over a goal a game in the VFL.
Lions GM of Football Danny Daly said Smith had been close to a debut for a while.
โWe are all really happy for Henry to get his chance at AFL level and are really proud of the way he has worked so hard to earn this opportunity,โ Daly said.
โHenry has been with us for four seasons now and to his credit he has done everything asked of him by the coaching staff and it's paid off.
โHis VFL form and his work on the training track has highlighted his ability and we are excited to see what he can do on Sunday and in the future for us.
โHe comes from a great supportive family and his debut is also a really special occasion for them and one that is a reward for all they have done for Henry as well.โ
Smith will act as a supporting act for McInerney and will assist in combatting Swans star Brodie Grundy in the ruck.
