Joel Smith

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This article is about the Australian rules footballer. For the drug dealer and murderer see Joel Smith (murderer)

**Joel Smith**
Personal Info
Birth	May 3, 1977,
Recruited from	Yarrawonga
Height/Weight	185cm / 87kg
Playing Career¹
Debut	Round 3, April 16, 1995, St Kilda vs. Adelaide, at Football Park
Team(s)	St Kilda (1995-1997) 58 games, 51 goals Hawthorn (1998-) 127 games, 36 goals
¹ Statistics to end of 2005 season
Career Highlights
All-Australian 2001, 2003 Hawthorn Best and Fairest 2001

Joel Smith (born May 3, 1977), is an Australian rules footballer.

Beginning his career in 1995 as a bright young prospect for St Kilda, Smith was touted as the future of the club. He provided 3 good years of service before being incurring a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury requiring reconstruction late in the 1997 home and away season, missing the Saints' finals series.

A contractual dispute meant he moved to Hawthorn at the end of 1997^{[citation needed]}. While he was injured all throughout 1998 and did not play a game, Hawthorn recognised this talent and kept him on the list.

Smith made his return in the 1999 season and his role at the Hawks was as a running half-back, setting up attacking plays. He has been very successful playing this role throughout his career, and in 2001, won All-Australian selection and the Peter Crimmins Medal. He again won All-Australian selection in 2003, and consistently finished in the top bunch of players in his club's best and fairest award.