By JARROD POTTER
PRINCES Park will always hold a special significance for Pakenham teenager Jake Smith.
Smith, 17, earned his TAC Cup debut on Saturday at the Carlton home ground when he featured as the 23rd man for the Gippsland Power in its 28-point loss to the Geelong Falcons.
He was tapped on the shoulder by the coach – former Gippsland alumnus Leigh Brown – and told that he would debut this week after his first shot at TAC Cup footy was curtailed by bone bruising.
“Leigh (Brown), the coach, came up to me and said I was going to be the 23rd man so that was exciting,” Smith said.
“I was pretty happy about it – I was picked earlier in the year but foot injuries set me back a few weeks.”
Emulating Collingwood’s Gippsland draftee Jarryd Blair, Smith doesn’t mind getting under the packs and was given a task deep forward to crumb the talls and try to sneak a couple of goals.
There weren’t any goals against his name by the final siren but Smith really wanted to blast out the song with his team mates to cap off his debut.
“Calm, nervous, excited – nice and cold too – but it was nice to get out there,” Smith said.
“No goals, unfortunately, but a win would’ve been good too – stand in the middle and sing the song – but the competition is great – it’s quicker, faster and the other players are good.”
He hopes to add to his TAC Cup tally this year but if it isn’t to be, he’s enjoying his time running around for Pakenham under-19s and hopes to earn a seniors debut for the Lions.
“They’re a good bunch of blokes here at Pakky and I enjoy playing here if I don’t get a game with the Power,” Smith said.
“Been playing here since under-nines and love playing my footy here and wouldn’t move.
“Would love to get a senior debut – height’s probably letting me down a bit, but you can’t help that.”
Next season as a top-aged TAC Cup player, Smith hopes to cement his spot in the Power’s line-up and potentially help push Pakenham up the Casey Cardinia ladder as well.
“Want to get a few more games this year, push through to next season and get a few games as a top-aged player,” Smith said.
“Play more and, hopefully, win a flag for Pakky even – would be pretty good – wouldn’t mind it as I haven’t won one.”
Smith thanked Leigh Brown for putting him in the side and his mum and little brother for their support and driving him down to training in Morwell.
He hopes to get his second chance to play TAC Cup football after the bye when Gippsland hosts Northern Knights.
