Three-time premiership Hawk joins Geelong

Triple premiership Hawk and former North Ballarat Rooster and Redan footballer Isaac Smith will join Geelong for the 2021 AFL season.

Smith was picked up by Hawthorn as a mature-age recruit in the 2010 National Draft and went on to play 210 games across a stellar decade for the Hawks.

The 31-year-old will now don the colours of his former club’s most fierce rival.

Smith’s career did not follow the traditional pathway, his footballing talent first being recognised playing reserves football in the Ballarat Football League for Redan in 2009.

Smith quickly took his raking left-boot and outside speed to the senior level where he was part of Redan’s senior premiership side in 2010. He then advanced to the Victorian Football League throughout 2010, playing for the North Ballarat Roosters, and once again tasting premiership success.

Smith joins the Cats as an unrestricted free agent after accepting a two-year contract reportedly in the vicinity of $400,000-$500,000 a year.

The explosive wingman is the first of what is expected to be a number of experienced players set to make the move to Geelong.

Skillful North Melbourne veteran Shaun Higgins looks certain to join the Cats, the club hoping he can fill the void left by the retiring Gary Ablett. While Greater Western Sydney key forward Jeremy Cameron has indicated his desire to join Geelong as a restricted free agent, the two clubs in discussion on how to best make the transaction.