SHAUN Smith’s playing career at Melbourne came to a close late in the 1998 season.
The high-flier’s four seasons in the red and blue produced 62 games, 96 goals and the ‘mark of the century’.
Now, 18 years on, a different set of circumstances sees Smith make his return to Melbourne.
The long-serving women’s and local football coach joins Michelle Cowan’s coaching staff for this week’s AFL Women’s Exhibition Game.
“I’ve thought about it for the last year or so, getting involved in [the women’s games],
Smith told melbournefc.com.au.
“I’ve got an opportunity now, so I’m very excited to be back in the Melbourne colours.”
Smith has spent four years in women’s football, starting with stints at Victorian Women’s Football League teams Berwick and Cranbourne.
After spending 2015 coaching men in the AFL Goldfields league, Smith returned to the women’s game this season when he joined VFL Women’s side St Kilda Sharks as its senior coach.
“I had one year off last year, coaching bush footy at Dunolly, because I was working up that way,” he said.
“Having that one year off really made me realise how much I missed coaching the girls.”
Smith said there had been a clear increase in professionalism during his time in the game.
“It’s changed a lot in the short time I’ve been involved, this is my fourth season… [and] coaching St Kilda at the moment is really good,” he said.
“The girls are listening and they’re very coachable and they certainly go hard at it – their commitment and hardness at the ball is amazing.
“It’s getting more professional now – I’ve got the girls at the Sharks training three nights a week and we get the majority of people there.
“You understand people work and have commitments outside of football but the commitment of the girls has been commendable.”
Smith, who will work as a line coach in Cowan’s team for this Sunday’s match against Brisbane Lions, said he was looking forward to building a rapport with a fresh coaching panel.
“We’re going to have two training sessions together as a coaching group – obviously Michelle will be calling the shots and we will work with her,” Smith said.
“I’ve had a chat with Michelle about what she expects and what her theories are, so we’ll work around her – I might give my little bit of input – and hopefully we can come up with the masterplan.”
The women’s team isn’t Smith’s only new connection to the club.
Son Joel was drafted to Melbourne as a Category B rookie ahead of this season and has played with VFL affiliate Casey in 2016.
Smith said it was exciting seeing his former teammates Todd Viney and Brett Allison involved in his son’s football journey.
“Getting involved in the Melbourne footy club’s been fantastic; coaching on the weekend, but also seeing Joel [at the club],” Smith said.
“Joel hasn’t run around in Melbourne colours yet, he’s still yet to come off the rookie list, but the prospect of [him] playing for Melbourne is pretty exciting.”
In the lead-up to the weekend’s game, Smith is one of several women’s football coaches receiving a development opportunity at Melbourne.
NT coach Andy Hood will also work as a line coach, while fellow VFL Women’s coach Brett Alexander (Seaford) will be joining the group in an observer’s role.
Smith said Melbourne’s investment in female football coaches, which also includes VWFL Coaches Forums, was crucial to the development of both coaches and players.
“It’s hugely important because they’re teaching the women and girls to play,” Smith said.
“There are a lot of girls who are coming into the sport at the moment who have never played football.
“I’ve got quite a few at St Kilda who have basically said ‘I’ve never played footy before, I’ve had a bit of a kick at school and I kick with my brothers’ and they come out and train and I go ‘wow, your brothers have done a good job teaching you’, because their skills and running ability is pretty amazing.
“But then you have to teach them the game, how to play and where to run. So coaching is a hugely important part of women’s football.”
The Melbourne women’s team will play against Brisbane Lions as part of a doubleheader at the MCG on Sunday.
The women’s game kicks off at 10.05am, with the men starting at 1.10pm. Members can scan into the game, while tickets are available at http://melbournefc.com.au/tickets