Adelaide defender Brodie Smith has been cleared to play his 200th AFL game after being hit in the eye by a golf ball.
A “terrible” round of golf, by Smith’s own admission, was made even worse when he was struck by a golf ball in his right eye after another player failed to call fore.
But after an appointment with the Crows doctor he’s set to play his milestone game when Adelaide clash with West Coast at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
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“I putted on a par three, walked over to my bag which was next to the green,” Smith said.
“And literally looking down as I took a step, the ball landed just at my right foot and came up and hit me in the eye.
“No fore call from behind which was pretty poor by him … (He) had no idea that he had hit me.”
Despite the freakish accident and potential for extreme danger, Smith said he never seriously worried.
“It hit me and I wasn’t in any pain, I wasn’t seeing stars or anything like that and I finished off the round, which I probably shouldn’t because I played terribly anyway,” Smith said.
“But there was no concern around any injury … I just had to tick it off with the doc clearly, because I walked in with a big shiner.
“It was a weekend off, I had to make sure (coach Matthew Nicks) knew it was on the golf course, there was no incident.”
Smith, a 2014 All-Australian, said he was relishing the thought of notching his 200th game.
“It’s one I’ve been looking forward to. (I’ve got) some videos today from some guys I used to play with, so that was really nice, and I think as the week’s gone on I’ve started to realise how big it is and how much it means to me,” Smith said.
“Getting all the tickets for my family and friends that are going to be there and some nice words from them and how big they think 200 (games) is (has been great). So it’s starting to sink in now, it’s a big moment for me and really special for me and family, so (I’m) really excited.”
Adelaide will be looking to bounce back from three losses in succession, to Carlton, Brisbane and Essendon, in Smith’s 200th match.
The Crows fell to the Bombers in a 63-point loss at Docklands Stadium last Friday, registering the club’s lowest-ever score in managing just 21 points.
The rebuilding Crows are sitting 16th, above Hawthorn and North Melbourne.
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