Len Smith

DOB: 9 February, 1912
Died: 1967
Debut: Round 5, 1934 against North Melbourne at Arden Street
Last MFC Game: Round 11, 1935 against South Melbourne at MCG

Games: 19 (95 total)
Goals: 3 (55 total)
Career Statistics

From: Fairfield Band Of Hope/Northcote

Number: 26 1934-1935

Leonard Victor "Len" Smith, the brother of Norm had played in two VFA premierships for Northcote before joining Melbourne in 1934. His recruitment was no surprise considering he had starred for the Brickfielders, but the Demons would get so much more after his father Vic suggested they might want to have a look at his younger son Norm as well.

Smith would probably have made his debut in the first round of 1934, but Northcote rejected a clearance for the fifth time. It took him until nearly a month into the season to win his freedom and join the Demons. He played 13 of the last 14 games of the season that year.

At Fitzroy

He returned to Northcote to win another flag in 1936, and late the next year Fitzroy persuaded him to return to the VFL. Smith then played with the Lions until 1945, though his career was interrupted in 1943 and 1944 when service with the RAAF in Darwin kept him out of the game.

In 1948 he started his coaching career with the Fitzroy Under 19's, and guided his side to the 1955 premiership. At the end of 1957 he was promoted to the senior role, but just as his side was in contention for second place in 1958 Smith suffered a heart attack. He returned for the finals, but they had missed the double chance and were knocked out in the first week. The next year they missed the finals by half a game, a round 14 draw with the Demons not helping their cause.

1960 saw Melbourne and Fitzroy finished 1st and 2nd on the ladder, and the brothers were pitched against each other in a semi-final. Despite Len's Lions entering the match with a nine game winning streak they were beaten by ten goals. It remains the only time siblings have coached against each other in a VFL/AFL final. The next year Smith was made coach of the Victorian state team - following in the footsteps of his brother who had already done the job.

In 1963 he moved to the VFA to coach Coburg, but returned to the VFL with Richmond in 1964. That year he suffered a heart attack, and in May 1965 he was forced to resign when his health deteriorated further. Coincidentally this was the same time that his brother had been sensationally sacked by the Demons, and it was initially believed that Len would be replaced by Norm at Punt Road.

Smith passed away from a heart attack in 1967. Just two months later the rebuilding process that he had set in motion came to fruition, and the Tigers won the premiership under Tom Hafey.

His grandson Wayne Harmes went on to play in a Carlton premiership side.

Links
Wikipedia profile