YARRAWONGA’S Ely Smith has been hailed as one of the Murray Bushrangers hardest working players after being picked up by Brisbane with pick 21 in the AFL draft.
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Smith, who enjoyed a dream second-half of the season in the TAC Cup, was one of the surprises on the opening night of the draft.
The Victorian Country representative was praised for his phenomenal workrate by Bushrangers talent manager Mick Wilson.
"Ely worked right through his break in the off-season,” Wilson said.
"His post season was really strong, running each morning and putting in a lot of work.
"He's definitely one of the hardest working kids I've seen in my time with the Murray Bushrangers."
Smith was holidaying in Thailand earlier this week when AFL national talent and international manager Kevin Sheehan summoned him to Melbourne.
“I was actually in Thailand when Kevin called me at 5.30am,” Smith said.
“It was a good surprise to wake up to.”