TSL: Launceston's Jake Smith released from defensive post

A McAuley medallist as a 21-year-old in 2015, the versatile midfielder was pulled aside when new coach Mitch Thorp first took on a transitioning Blues side in 2019.

For two years following that conversation, the 184cm bulldog was deployed as an undersized yet rarely-beaten full-back.

So impressive was the former St Patrick's College student in the role that it almost came as a shock when he played out the 2020 finals series on a wing.

He has remained up the ground in 2021 and Thorp plans to keep him there for the season's remainder.

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"We lost 29 players [after 2018] and we were down to the bare bones of senior experience," Thorp said.

"Jake and I had a really good conversation of how important I needed him to be as a shut-down defender and play on the opposition's best forward, whether that was Aiden Grace or Brad Cox-Goodyer, and he did a terrific job - he made team of the year and represented the state in the under-25 game against Victoria.

"As we've progressed as a club and a team we've been able to release him from a sour, dour defender into an offensive weapon which we know that he is.

"He'll continue moving up the ground and we've even been able to get him in front of the ball at times this year as a forward - he's really good above his head and he's a great kick.

"He's a really experienced player that doesn't get flustered, he's quite mature on the ground so Jake is just benefitting from our young talent that we've got at the club behind the ball.

"[Jack] Tuthill, [Jacob] Boyd, [Alec] Wright, [Jamieson] House - they're all such young men but they're doing such a good job and it's been good for Jake to be able to be released up the ground a little bit."

Launceston meets Clarence at Bellerive Oval at 2pm on Saturday.

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