North’s upbeat in Smith setback

NORTH Melbourne will have a strong contingent of Tasmanian players for its debut game in the AFLW at North Hobart Oval on February 3 despite the loss of Maddison Smith with a knee injury.

Smith, who caught the Kangaroos’ attention by kicking nine goals for TSLW team Clarence in her first game last season, dislocated the patella on her right knee in match simulation training on January 5.

North Melbourne football operations manager Laura Kane said the injury would not cost Smith the entire season.

“It’s a relatively significant injury but she’s already under way with rehab and she will make a full recovery,” Kane said.

“It’s a short season in terms of weeks and that doesn’t give her much time to try and get back.

“We hope to have her back for Round 6 against Collingwood at Marvel Stadium.”

The biggest blow was missing the opening game in Tasmania.

“She is really disappointed she can’t play on her home ground in her state in front of her family,” Kane said.

“We need her to be recovered as quickly as she can so she’s available for later in the season.”

Smith was shaping up well as an impact forward, working in attack with Jasmine Garner, Mo Hope and Sophie Abbat- angelo. “Maddy knows her way around the goals. That’s where she does her best work,” Kane said.

“Between all of those players, they can certainly do some damage up forward.”

North Melbourne is impressed with all its eight Tasmanian recruits — Smith, Brittany Gibson, Daria Bannister, Emma Humphries, Jessie Williams, Nicole Bresnehan, and twins Chloe and Libby Haines

“All the girls in Tassie have been doing really well and have been able to consolidate the really good form they had in the TSLW so they will be able to come up and play some AFLW games,” Kane said.

Kane was “not bold enough” to say how many Tassie Kangaroos might make the team for the opening game.

“At the moment there’s still a way to go but I think we will have a strong Tasmanian contingent playing each week,” she said.

“They are all training really well and developing really quickly so I definitely know we will see some Tassie girls in the team for North Hobart in Round 1.”