Smith set for Carlton’s AFL mosquito fleet

Nick Smith faces a sleepless night in the words of Sydney AFL coach John Longmire, as the unassuming defender prepares for a run-in with Carlton’s mosquito fleet.

Smith is regularly tasked with minding the opposition’s most dangerous small forward, so it’s rare Longmire has to think too much about who to send him to.

But it’s hardly a clear-cut call for the Swans’ sudden-death semi-final at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night, when the Blues will boast Eddie Betts, Jeff Garlett and Chris Yarran.

“Probably Betts or Garlett I’d say, or a mixture of both,” Smith replied when asked which of the ‘Three Amigos’ he’s likely to match up on.

“You just have to adjust, depending on which of the two you’re on.

“Jeff’s probably a little bit quicker, gets up the ground and sprints back.

“Whereas Eddie can get on the lead, and plays one out of the goal square a little bit.

“…He’s a really good player. If you’re not switched on he’ll definitely get a hold of you, which has happened in the past.”

Smith restricted Betts to just six touches in the two sides’ only meeting this year, the Swans’ 22-point win at a sodden SCG in round 14.

Garlett was also quiet in that match, with Dane Rampe getting the better of him, while Yarran was the substitute in his first game back after being dropped for poor on-field body language.

However as Smith noted, all three gave Carlton a lift in their second-half surge against Richmond in week one of the finals.

Longmire pointed out Yarran had spent time in defence recently, but was nonetheless worried about what the trio would produce on the weekend.

“I wouldn’t like to be Nick sleeping the night before a game, because he plays on some of the best small forwards in the competition,” Longmire said on Thursday.

“This week we come up against some of the best.

“For Nick Smith, Dane Rampe and those type of players .. it will be a challenge.

“But it always gets down to that midfield battle, how we move the ball and how we pressure the opposition.”

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