Jagga Smith
| Jagga Smith | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Born | 28 January 2006 | ||
| Original team | Oakleigh Chargers | ||
| Draft | No. 3, 2024 AFL draft | ||
| Debut | Opening Round, 2026, Carlton vs. Sydney, at the SCG | ||
| Height | 182 cm (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Carlton | ||
| Number | 7 | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 2025– | Carlton | 24 (10) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the wildcard finals, 2026. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Jagga Smith (born 28 January 2006) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Junior career
[edit]Smith grew up in Richmond and began playing junior football at the Richmond Junior Football Club in the Yarra Junior Football League.[1] Smith played for the Oakleigh Chargers in the Coates Talent League during 2023 and 2024. In 2024, he captained the Chargers, won its best and fairest[2] and placed third in the Morrish Medal.[3] He also played in the Under 18 Championships for Vic Metro, captaining the team to the championship in 2024.[4] He played three games for the Richmond reserves in the VFL as 23rd man during the year.[5]
AFL career
[edit]2025
[edit]Smith was selected by the Carlton Football Club with pick 3 of the 2024 AFL draft.[6] Carlton, which rated him the best player of the draft, had traded up in the first round order to ensure it could secure him.[7] He received guernsey No. 7,[8] which was Smith’s number at Oakleigh. He had been impressive during the preseason and was expected to make a round 1 debut, before rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in his first interclub practice match, and missing the entirety of the 2025 season.[9]
2026
[edit]Smith made his debut against the Sydney Swans in Opening Round of the 2026 AFL season.[10] He had 27 disposals on debut.[11] The next week in round 1, Smith tallied 32 disposals and 11 score involvements to receive a nomination for the 2026 AFL Rising Star award.[12]
On 26 March, Smith signed a contract extension to the end of 2030.[13] In round 21 of the 2026 season, against Brisbane, Smith had 29 disposals and kicked two goals to win the Robert Walls Medal as best on ground.[14]
After a strong debut season, Smith was named in the 2026 22 Under 22 team.[15] On 25 August, Smith was named the winner of the AFL Rising Star award for the 2026 season.[16]
Personal life
[edit]Smith's father Michael was drafted by Collingwood in the 1988 VFL Draft with pick 53, however he did not play a senior game for the team.[17]
Smith attended primary school at Richmond Primary School in Melbourne.[18] He completed his high school studies at Scotch College in Melbourne in 2023, where he became close friends with Carlton teammate Cooper Lord.[19] He returned to the school as an assistant coach to the First 18 football team during the 2025 season.[20]
Statistics
[edit]Updated to the end of the wildcard finals, 2026.[21]
G |
Goals | K |
Kicks | D |
Disposals | T |
Tackles |
B |
Behinds | H |
Handballs | M |
Marks |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | Votes | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | |||||
| 2025 | Carlton | 7[8] | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 |
| 2026 | Carlton | 7 | 24 | 10 | 7 | 254 | 347 | 601 | 74 | 66 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 10.6 | 14.5 | 25.0 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 0 |
| Career | 24 | 10 | 7 | 254 | 347 | 601 | 74 | 66 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 10.6 | 14.5 | 25.0 | 3.1 | 2.8 | 0 | ||
References
[edit]- ↑ "Jagga Smith". Draftguru. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ↑ "Jagga Smith". Rookie Me Central. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
- ↑ "Gippsland duo power to best and fairest awards". afl.com.au. 18 September 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- ↑ Alvaro, Michael (18 July 2024). "2024 AFL Under 18 All Australian team". Rookie Me Central. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- ↑ Greenberg, Tony (22 July 2024). "Jagga steps up superbly to VFL level". richmondfc.com.au. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- ↑ "Pick No.3: Welcome to Carlton, Jagga Smith". carltonfc.com.au. 20 November 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- ↑ Chellappah, Jasper (21 November 2024). "Every AFL club's draft haul rated: Who passed? Who failed?". ESPN. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- 1 2 "Jumper numbers revealed for 2025". carltonfc.com.au. 24 November 2024. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- ↑ Jay Clark (23 February 2025). "AFL pre-season injury news: Blues draftee Jagga Smith tears ACL, out for 2025 season". Herald Sun. Retrieved 23 February 2025.
- ↑ Filippo, Cristian. "AFL team news: Blues confirm double AFL debut". carltonfc.com.au. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
- ↑ Filippo, Cristian. "AFL match report: Swans blow away Blues in second half". carltonfc.com.au. Retrieved 7 March 2026.
- ↑ "Moves like Jagga: Blues young gun earns deserved Rising Star nod". afl.com.au. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
- ↑ "Signed, sealed, delivered: Jagga Smith commits". carltonfc.com.au. Retrieved 26 March 2026.
- ↑ Bolch, Dylan. "Brilliant Blues pile on HUGE score in stunning upset of Lions". afl.com.au. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
- ↑ Filippo, Cristian. "22under22: Emerging Blue stars named among competition's best". carltonfc.com.au. Retrieved 19 August 2026.
- ↑ Cohen, Brandon. "FULL VOTES: Blues young gun wins Rising Star, falls just short of perfect season". afl.com.au. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
- ↑ McGowan, Marc (6 November 2024). "Moves like Jagga: Why hit song means something different to AFL recruiters". The Age. Retrieved 16 December 2024.
- ↑ Stevens, Mark. "Jagga's Patch: The suburb riding a young superstar's debut". zerohanger.com. Retrieved 20 February 2026.
- ↑ Geleit, Lachlan. "Best mates in navy blue: Jagga Smith and Cooper Lord ready to make an impact at Carlton". sen.com.au. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
- ↑ "Giant's latest offer, Jagga's new role, latest on potential 2026 No.1". afl.com.au. 2025-04-24. Retrieved 2025-11-01.
- ↑ "Jagga Smith". AFL Tables. Retrieved 11 August 2026.
External links
[edit]- Jagga Smith's profile on the official website of the Carlton Football Club
- Jagga Smith's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Jagga Smith at AustralianFootball.com
