ANDREW Smith knows he has big shoes to fill after being appointed president of Wangaratta Rovers.
The former Wangaratta Magpies, Glenrowan and Greta player was officially sworn in on Tuesday night.
He takes over from Mark Booth and is excited to take on a position that was long held by local sporting identity Pat Flynn.
“It’s great to be part of a club with such strong history and the Ovens and Murray is such a strong competition to be a part of,” Smith said yesterday.
“Past presidents of Rovers have been very good leaders so I have big shoes to fill.”
Smith, who hasn’t served on the club’s committee, has a strong family connection to the Hawks.
His son James recently graduated from the thirds, while youngest daughter Kate plays netball for the club.
And Smith’s step-son Karl Norman is one of the stars of the senior team.
Smith, 44, comes well credentialled. He is a life member of the Ovens and King league and a two-time premiership player at Greta.
He has coached Glenrowan and the Wangaratta reserves and is the president of the Australian Cherry Growers Association.
Smith said he would work closely with the Rovers’ “very healthy” committee.
“It’s a special group of people sitting around the board table at the moment,” he said.
“Mark is happy to help with the transition so he will be great to bounce questions off.
“It’s a very healthy board with some very good people involved.
“There has been a lot of work done to put structures in place.”