Archie Smith (footballer, born 1995)

Archibald Smith (born 19 July 1995) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life
Smith was born in Brisbane on 19 July 1995, the son of former NBA and NBL basketball player Andre Moore. Smith himself played junior basketball at an elite level and was courted by multiple Division One colleges in the United States before being scouted by AFL recruiters at the age of 17. Despite having no prior Australian rules football experience, Smith drew interest from recruiters due to his supreme athleticism for his size. He attended St Laurence's College in South Brisbane throughout his teenage years.

Football career
Smith was drafted by the Brisbane Lions with their third selection and sixty-ninth overall in the 2014 rookie draft as an Academy selection. He made his debut against in round 19, 2016 in a near best-on-ground performance, gathering 19 disposals and 30 hit outs at the Gabba.

While Smith spent eight years with Brisbane, only three of those were on the senior list, and he was starved for opportunities at the highest level. Playing mostly for Brisbane's reserve team in this time, Smith won three premierships with the Lions in the North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) in 2013, 2017 and 2019. Following the win over Southport in the 2019 NEAFL grand final, he became the first (and subsequently only) player to win three flags at NEAFL level.

Personal life
Smith is one of 6 children, with siblings Gemma, Sebastian, Isaac, Abib and Violet. In November 2020, Archie's brother, Sebastian, died by suicide at the age of 21. Subsequently, before every game, Smith wrote his late brother's name on his wrist as a motivational tribute. Smith also advocated for suicide prevention in his brother's memory as an ambassador for Lifeline Australia.

Smith announced his retirement from the AFL at the end of the 2021 season, citing a desire to prioritise mental well-being and family. He married his longtime partner Sophie in October 2021, and the couple welcomed their first child, Montgomery, in April 2022.