After the departures of a few key personnel, it was only a matter of time before Minyip-Murtoa landed a big-name recruit ahead of the 2022 Wimmera Football Netball League Season.
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The Burras have done just that, announcing the addition of former Fremantle Docker Tanner Smith to the club's 2022 list.
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Smith originally hails from Kalkee and is fresh out of the SANFL with North Adelaide, where he played 85 games and was one of the Roosters' best as a key defender in their 2018 grand final win.
The former Docker is returning to the Wimmera from Adelaide with his partner to raise their family and couldn't be more excited.
"I can't wait (to be back) I've been away for nearly 10 years now," Smith said.
"I'm just really looking forward to growing our family back in the country and being surrounded by family.
"With the footy side of things I've obviously played at a professional level for quite a while and I'm really looking forward to the community and family-oriented side of footy and netball combined."
As for why he chose the Burras, Smith pointed to a few reasons.
"I just felt like they had a lot more of a click with the family side of things," he said.
"And my mum's family used to have a farm out at Minyip, so there was a little bit of that as well just through my mum's side of the family playing out there as well.
"I went to school in Ballarat for a couple of years with Timmy (McKenzie) as well. We've got a pretty strong relationship."
Smith, an 196 cm defender who can also play forward, appeared four times for Fremantle between 2013 and 2016 after being selected with pick 36 in the 2012 AFL National Draft.
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The Dockers delisted him in 2016 after suffering serious shoulder and hamstring injuries.
However, at North Adelaide, Smith experienced "a really good run with injuries", and at 27, he believes he has plenty of good football ahead of him.
"Touch wood I can keep the same run when I come back," he said.
"It was easy to not worry about looking after your body, but now I'm getting a bit older I tend to try and look after it a bit better than what I used to."
It was difficult for Smith to say goodbye to the Roosters after five years, but it was a decision he felt he had to make.
"I really loved it (my time there)," he said.
"When I got delisted from Fremantle, I kind of lost the passion for footy a little bit.
"And then, going back to North Adelaide, I found a love for the game again. Just enjoying it with my mates, and I had a really good group that I went through with over that five year period.
"I just really enjoyed the club, I wish I could keep playing but you just get to that point in your life where priorities change."
The Burras are still the defending premiers heading into the 2022 season after their 2019 victory and finished the abandoned 2021 season as the minor premiers.
The club will be without star midfielders Tim and Ben McIntyre (signed by Edenhope-Apsley) and leading goalkicker Brayden Ison (signed by Rupanyup) but will have their premiership chances bolstered by Smith's inclusion.
"It sounds like the side is in good shape and I'm really looking forward to contributing in some shape or form," Smith said.
"I'm just really looking forward to putting on the jumper."
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