The South Australian sporting pedigree of the Smith family was added to last night with the selection of Crows defender Brodie Smith in the AFL’s All-Australian side.

Smith, 22, was honoured alongside team mate Daniel Talia and the Power pair of Robbie Gray and skipper Travis Boak.

Smith’s story is classic western suburbs Adelaide; his father had a crack at three football codes, his mother was a talented gymnast and his sister is carving out her own diverse sporting career.

His Dad, Gordon Smith, knocked back a contract with West Adelaide in the National Soccer League, played Rugby Union for a season and moved across to Ethelton in the SA amateurs as his football home.

Mum Tracey was a state representative in calisthenics and the Smith’s daughter Hayley, currently 18, was the Henley High School sporting person of the year, an Under 18s state cricketer, SA underage football representative and open age state soccer player in 2012.

Brodie had previously collected the sportsperson of the year at Henley High in 2010.

Gordon told InDaily that while Brodie’s football talent may have come from his side, the All-Australian’s calm demeanour is certainly a product of his mother and her extended family.

The Crows defender’s ability was first noted at national under 18s level and from the time he made his SANFL league debut with Woodville West Torrens as a 17-year-old.

“Brodie is a natural leader by the actions and the way he goes about this football,” SA Talent Manager and State under 18s coach since 2007, Brenton Phillips said.

“We had him for two years, 2009 and 2010, in our underage program.

“In the second campaign he won our Most Valuable Player award and was one of the dominant lads during the tournament.

“There were a few early question marks about his kicking style, but I told detractors to look at the results, as he continually finds targets.

“He got an opportunity late in the AIS program and travelled to Europe.

“The Crows really missed his drive out of defence in the first month of this year when he was injured.

“While his is good at setting up the game out of the back half, Brodie will develop into an excellent midfielder and has ‘200-game AFL footballer’ stamped on his forehead.”

Still in his early 20s, Smith has already clocked up 76 games. He shapes as one of several players who will be the core of the Adelaide side for many years to come.

Ablett in a league of his own

Gary Ablett’s record eighth-straight AFL All-Australian selection will intensify speculation about whether he can earn the rare honour of becoming a triple Brownlow Medallist.

The Gold Coast captain is in the 22-man honorary lineup despite playing only 15 games, thanks to his season-ending shoulder injury in round 16.

The star onballer was named as the All-Australian rover and is the first player to make the team in eight-straight seasons.

“Gary Ablett is the greatest player in the game and arguably the greatest we’ve ever seen,” said All-Australian selector Kevin Bartlett.

Ablett was a unanimous choice by the nine selectors.

Ablett also joins his father Gary Snr and four other players who have eight total selections, while five have nine.

The Swans had the most selections this year with four, including Coleman Medallist Lance Franklin.

Josh Kennedy, Nick Malceski and Nick Smith are the other Sydney selections.

Saturday night’s preliminary finalists Hawthorn had three players picked – forwards Jarryd Roughead and Luke Breust as well as midfielder Jordan Lewis.

Their opponents Port Adelaide have two players in the team, captain Travis Boak and youngster Robbie Gray.

The team features 13 players making their first appearance in the All-Australian 22, the third-most in a year since annual teams were named separate to national carnivals.

There were 15 first timers in 2012 and 14 in 1982.

All this year’s defenders are in the team for the first time.

The other players with previous selections are Selwood (fourth team), Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury (fifth straight), Franklin (fifth), Kennedy (2012), Roughead (2013), Fremantle ruckman Aaron Sandilands (fourth) and Boak (2013).

2014 ALL AUSTRALIAN TEAM

B: Cale Hooker (Ess) Daniel Talia (Adel) Nick Smith (Syd)

HB: Nick Malceski (Syd) Alex Rance (Rich) Brodie Smith (Adel)

C: Nathan Fyfe (Fre) Josh Kennedy (Syd) Dyson Heppell (Ess)

HF: Robbie Gray (PA) Nick Riewoldt (StK, vice-captain) Luke Breust (Haw)

F: Hayden Ballantyne (Fre) Lance Franklin (Syd) Jarryd Roughead (Haw)

R: Aaron Sandilands (Fre) Joel Selwood (Geel) Gary Ablett (GC)

Inter: Travis Boak (PA) Jordan Lewis (Haw) Scott Pendlebury (Coll) Tom Rockliff (Bris)

– with AAP