Former AFL assistant coach Michael Broadbridge is convinced Richmond’s first pick in the 2022 national draft (No. 49 overall), Kaleb Smith, has what it takes to carve out a successful career at the game’s highest level.

Broadbridge, who had assistant coaching stints at Collingwood, Fremantle and West Coast, coached Smith at Perth’s Wesley College and is a big fan of the explosive, young utility player.

“He’s super quick and from a skills perspective, he’s pretty tidy as well,” Broadbridge told The West Australian newspaper.

Smith, who also played for WAFL club East Fremantle’s colts team throughout the 2022 season, was impressive in a variety of on-field roles – half-back, wing, midfield and forward.

“The very best sides have a few of those guys floating through the midfield and forward line, like Jordan De Goey, Christian Petracca, Patrick Dangerfield, Dustin Martin,” Broadbridge said.

“They’re big names I know, but you need that sort of player to win AFL premierships.

“He’s just got those AFL capabilities that other kids don’t have.

“He plays half-back for East Fremantle colts and he breaks lines.

“We played him on a wing last year at PSA level and he just terrorises the opposition with his speed and ball-carrying ability.

“Then we realised when we put him forward that he could jump and mark the ball and kick goals as well. We didn’t have much of that, so we left him forward.

“We played him on ball a bit as well and he ran out of centre bounces and kicked goals from there.

“He’s got strings to his bow, but he’s still got development left in his body and his game, so there’s lots of upside to him as well.

“He can burst away, he can jump vertically and he’s a good kick, with clean hands. So, he’s got those traits with AFL written all over them.”