By Jarrod Potter
Selflessness is a fragile concept in the TAC Cup.
Too much of it and players run the risk of being overlooked at the end of the year … but not enough and they’re ‘just arrogant’ and ‘out for yourself’.
Perry Lewis-Smith is softly spoken. Words aren’t his driving force; his actions are derived from each kick, each handball and each strongly phrased point his determined mindset asks of him.
But for the former Parkmore Pirates premiership captain in the South East Juniors … he definitely leaned towards the former when posed a difficult proposition about which colours he’d be wearing recently.
He’s from Mt Eliza – a traditional proving ground for Dandenong Stingrays alumnus like number one draft picks Jacob Weitering and Lachlan Whitfield – but by a strange twist he’s lining up in the black, white and vivid maroon at Sandringham.
The Sandringham Dragons needed to qualify more plays for the TAC Cup finals and Lewis-Smith, 17, had already qualified … so they asked him if he’d step back to local footy for a few weeks for the good of the team.
It wasn’t a question he needed to hear twice – Lewis-Smith immediately accepted.
He went to Dingley for a month and relished the chances afforded to him by head coach Shane Morwood.
Instead of moping around, putting in a half-arsed performance and waiting for the easy touches, the hard-running midfielder excelled and made the step-back into a chance to step forward with his career.
He went straight into the centre and tore apart the best that Southern Football League Division 1 senior bodies could offer up.
Racking up touches, slotting goals and generally terrorising the opposition – his time back in the local seniors proved an incredible tune up for the approaching TAC Cup finals.
In his limited time in the Dingoes jumper, he stole the show with two 40-disposal matches and a 30 touch game through the centre while also snagging 12 goals in an incredible month of local domination.
“I’m just trying to do my best, hold my spot (with the Dragons) but, most importantly, play my role and do everything I’m asked of,” Lewis-Smith said.
“They’re (Sandringham) just real happy with my running ability and happy with me lately – they’ve told me if I keep up the good form I’ll be talked to at the end of the year by recruiters and the like.
“So I’m just happy to keep playing my role, wherever that is.”
He returned to Sandringham late last month and was thrown in the deep end immediately. His last challenge was against another up-and-coming Peninsula talent as he went toe-to-toe with Dandenong’s Sam Fowler in the Dragons’ narrow six-point loss to the Stingrays.
But for Lewis-Smith, he was able to keep the goal-sneak to just one snag and ensure that he brought back the lessons of a month away the Dragons back into the TAC Cup.
“I think I’m surprising people more (than myself) because I know what I’m capable of and what I can do,” Lewis-Smith said.
“It’s just a case of each week getting better and better and showing them what I can achieve and what I can do at this level.”
District gold medals in the schoolboys’ athletics regions championships earlier this year also showed his all-round calibre as his busy 2016 extends beyond the footy oval.
“Haven’t been doing much athletics at the moment, but I thought I’d give it a go,” Lewis-Smith said. “Went out and won three gold medals in the 400m, 800m and 1500m and broke all three of the (division) records.”
He wanted to thank Dingley and Sandringham for his on-field opportunities this year, his mentors Mick ’The Human Blanket’ Gayfer and Morwood, and his family for their unwavering support.
