Smith’s career-defining choice that re-wrote his final season

Heading into what turned out to be the final season of his career, retiring Crow Brodie Smith had a decision to make. 

Coming off a 2024 season that was, by his own admission, well below the lofty standards he had set for himself, the 250-gamer had lost his place in the Club’s best 22, and with one-year left on his contract, found himself at a crossroads. 

He could have rode off into the sunset playing SANFL footy, resigned to the fact he would never line up with the Crows at the top level again. 

Or he could fully commit himself to the group for one more season, diving into the mindset of helping the younger players around him and producing his best footy. 

The 33-year-old chose the latter, and went to work, initially being a pivotal experienced head in the Crows’ SANFL team, before an opportunity arose within the AFL team, which he grasped and  featured in two finals. 

“I probably had a decision to make at the end of last year about how I wanted to go about things,” Smith told the media on Thursday. 

“I had a pretty difficult 2024 and decided to put my head down, go to work and really have a crack at giving my best to the team this year and play some AFL footy. 

“But if that (playing AFL) wasn’t to be, I just wanted to give the young boys in the SANFL everything I had and be the best mentor I could to those guys. 

“It turns out I was able to do both (play AFL and SANFL), which was super rewarding, and play some good footy – which made the decision to retire a little bit harder. 

“I probably knew for most of the year that this was going to be my last, and to finish it playing in AFL finals, I couldn’t be more grateful.”

The way Smith handled his final season was just one of many proud moments he had across his 15-year career at West Lakes. 

But he said the most satisfying aspect of his journey was how he bought into the Club’s pursuit for success, and rode the ups and downs of AFL footy. 

“There have been some really good moments, I got to Captain a Showdown win thanks to Daws (Jordan Dawson) after the siren, if you told me I was going to do that at the start of my career there is no way I would have believed you,” Smith said. 

“So things like that are always cool, and I guess overall just the way I went about my career and how I bought into what we’ve been trying to achieve. 

“Sticking it out through those tough years of the rebuild, helping these young boys along the way, and seeing us get back to finals footy this year – it’s pretty satisfying to leave knowing the Club is in a great space and I had a part in helping us on that journey.” 

Smith leaves the Adelaide Football Club as the eighth-highest capped player in its history, having donned the tri-colours on 273 occasions. 

That record puts him among the greatest players to feature for the Crows, a title he admitted did not sit well with him. 

“That (being a one club player) was really important to me, the boys got into me that I don’t leave West Lakes, so I was never going to another Club regardless,” Smith said. 

“I saw a leaderboard of games played a couple of weeks ago and I was right up there, and that still hasn’t quite sunk in for me that I’ve played that much footy at this Club. 

“To be in the top ten of games played at this Club is very surreal, and compared to some of the greats who have played over 250 games for the Crows, it doesn’t quite sit well with me to be honest.

“The boys and coaches pumped me up a fair bit today, around my career and what I’ve done which was really special, but it doesn’t really sit well with me being in the same sentence as those absolute legends.

“It will take a while to sink in, but I’m certainly very proud of the career I’ve had.” 

Although humble about his career, the All-Australian defender had been a vital cog in the Crows’ side for the best part of 15 years.

Renowned for speed and skill across half-back, his strengths had always been a crucial part to how Adelaide played.

So when asked who from the younger crop could be “the next Brodie Smith”, he was quick to nominate two uncapped youngsters he has taken under his wing in 2025.  

“I did a lot of work with Charlie Edwards and Oscar Ryan throughout the year so I’ll put those two boys up, I’m super excited to see what they’ll bring,” Smith said. 

“There are so many other guys I can’t wait to see develop too, in the backline we’ve got the likes of James Borlase, Jordon Butts, Hugh Bond, all these guys who played great footy this year but were in and out of the side. 

“So the boys are in a great spot to hopefully go one or two better next year.” 

Although his 15-year football journey has come to an end, Smith is about to embark on an exciting new chapter in his life. 

Having become a Dad just six weeks ago, he said the immediate future would be spent with his family before he went pursuing the next step of his career. 

“I’ll certainly take some time to think through what’s next, I’ve got the little one now who’s six years old, so I’ll spend a lot of time with Lisa (Smith’s wife) and Luca (Smith’s son),” Smith said. 

“I can’t wait to really enjoy family life and what that has to offer. I’ve also done a lot of coaching across the journey and that’s something I’m very passionate about. 

“I’ll certainly look at my options there and potentially if I could come back here in a few years and help coach the boys that would be great and get back amongst the group.”