As Geelong’s 2023 preparations continue, veteran Isaac Smith spoke to media at GMHBA Stadium.

Smith on … entering the new season as reigning premiers

“When you win it, it only takes about two or three weeks and you’ve already moved on to the next season. We haven’t really mentioned that we won the premiership – we celebrated that last year, and onto the next one, hopefully.”

Smith on … what position he will play in 2023

“I’m just trying to get a game. All these young guys, they come out and they’re quicker, fitter, stronger, bigger. No, I’m not sure exactly, I think the beauty of being experienced and being a bit older is that you’re happy to just play any role that gets thrown at you.”

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Smith on … filling the void after Joel Selwood

“It’s obviously a huge loss when you lose someone like that in the football club. I think everyone in the footy world saw the love externally for Joel, and you could probably times that by 10 for the love that people inside these walls had. It will be a big loss, but we’re lucky that we’ve got the depth to cover where Joel played. It’ll be an interesting watch to see if we can fill the void of the influence he had not just on the team, but the whole football department.

Smith on … who steps up in the midfield

"I think it was pretty highlighted what the club did in the off-season trade period, getting Tanner Bruhn and Jack Bowes in, (but) we’ve also got some young players underneath that are working (hard). I think we’re very confident in how that’s progressing and the players that we’re rolling through there."

Smith on … the reception he’s had around Geelong post-premiership

"It’s actually been really nice and really positive down here. The amount of people that have stopped and said thank you, it’s quite heart-warming to realise how many people you entertain and also fulfil their lives. It’s been really nice. I’ve even had a few ex-Hawks fans come up and congratulate me as well, which certainly wasn’t happening before the premiership."