Lapping it up: Aurora Smith is loving life on the track at Whitten Oval. Photo: Western Bulldogs/Meg Mullen
The past 12 months have been nothing short of a whirlwind for Shepparton United product Aurora Smith.
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Coming into the 2021 season as somewhat of an unknown quantity for the Murray Bushrangers, Smith took the NAB League by storm, combining her blistering speed and elite endurance to become arguably the best wing in the competition.
Taking out the Bushrangers’ best-and-fairest as well as being named on the wing in the 2021 NAB League Girls’ Team of the Year, her dreams of becoming an AFLW player quickly became a reality, with the Western Bulldogs taking a chance on the 18-year-old with pick 25 in the 2021 National Draft.
Now rubbing shoulders with superstars of the competition such as Ellie Blackburn and Isabel Huntington, the Shepparton export is lapping up every second at the Kennel as she continues to grow her game.
“I have really enjoyed it since making the move down to Melbourne, I definitely think being part of the team and training consistently has been a great experience and I have loved getting to know everyone at the Bulldogs,” Smith said of her first few months as an AFLW player.
“(Being able to call myself a Western Bulldogs player) is really awesome and sometimes at training I still can’t believe that I am actually here and part of the team, it really is a surreal feeling.”
Unable to crack into the senior team for the Dogs’ first three games, Smith has been working hard behind the scenes, leaning on a few experienced campaigners to help her adapt to the next level and develop into an AFLW calibre footballer.
“I have definitely found it to be a bit of a step up with the three trainings a week and the longer sessions along with all the gym sessions, it is definitely a change from what I used to do and I am loving it,” she said.
“Ellie Blackburn and Kirsty Lamb have been awesome for me training in the midfield line, they will always be the first to come up to me and give me pointers which really gives my confidence a boost as I hope to keep developing as a player.”
Eyes set on a debut: Aurora Smith is working hard on the track in hopes of an AFLW debut. Photo: Western Bulldogs/Meg Mullen
Hard work is something that has long been imprinted in the mind of the talented 18-year-old, with her willingness to train and get better through the COVID-19-ravaged 2020 season sparking her rapid improvement.
“In 2020 we only had three games or something due to COVID, so I used the lockdown as a chance to really focus on my football and improve on the areas I knew would get me to the next level,” she said.
“That period allowed me to develop my skills and more importantly just motivate me so that when the time came that we could play games again I was ready, and it all paid off as I was able to have a really good season.”
Similarly, to her final two years at underage level, the start to her professional career has been far from ordinary, with COVID-19 wreaking havoc on the Dogs’ start to the season and forcing her to the sidelines for two weeks.
“It has been difficult for the club as a whole because all we want to do is play football,” she said.
“The spirits have been high among the girls though and with a few back-to-back games coming up everyone is just excited to get back out there.”
However, for Smith her focus hasn’t wavered through the chaos, as she continues to pursue her childhood dream.
“I really would like to debut and that is what I’m focusing on, I am working really closely with the coaches, so each week I feel more confident, that is my main goal for this season,” she said.
“As a team the goal is always to win a premiership, last year they just missed out on finals, so I think the first step is just trying to win games consistently, try to make finals and then go from there.”
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