Bella Smith, a seasoned AFLW player with 36 games across five seasons, is set to join the Fremantle Dockers next year in a move influenced by a phone call with her former teammate, Ash Brazill. Smith, who began her football journey with Collingwood after transitioning from netball, later joined the Sydney Swans during their inaugural AFLW season in 2022.
The 23-year-old South Australian native, who grew up admiring professional netballers, was initially starstruck when she met Brazill, a dual-code athlete, at Collingwood in 2021. Their shared history and Brazill’s glowing endorsement of Fremantle played a pivotal role in Smith’s decision to move west.
“Freo was really supportive, allowing me to connect with Ash before deciding. Her words about the team and program sold me quickly,” Smith said. Her enthusiasm for reuniting with Brazill is palpable, though she joked about avoiding one-on-one matchups against her former idol during training.
Fremantle coach Lisa Webb has outlined plans to utilize Smith’s skills as a forward, valuing her role as a contest-focused player rather than prioritizing statistics. “My job isn’t to rack up touches or take flashy marks but to contest, bring the ball to ground, and capitalize on opportunities,” Smith explained. She expressed admiration for Webb’s character, recounting how the coach flew to Sydney to meet her before the draft, demonstrating genuine care for her players.
Smith’s trade from Sydney to Fremantle, in exchange for pick No. 49, marked her first experience of being part of the trade process—a nerve-wracking ordeal she doesn’t wish to repeat. “Watching the trade period as a spectator is exciting, but being involved was stressful. I hated it, but I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity,” she admitted.
Now preparing to embrace life in Western Australia, Smith is eager to contribute to Fremantle’s AFLW campaign and grow within their program. Reflecting on the whirlwind nature of her journey, she’s excited to start fresh and make her mark as a Docker.
Her move signals a significant new chapter in her AFLW career, one underscored by her gratitude for the supportive environment Fremantle has already fostered and her excitement to hit the ground running with her new teammates.