Strong family ties to Albany for rising cricketer turned AFL draftee Kaleb Smith snapped up by Richmond

As his proud family watched on in the living room of his grandparents’ house in Albany, Kaleb Smith’s dream of being drafted to an AFL club became a reality on Tuesday. The newly drafted Richmond Tiger has strong links to Albany, with his father Andrew Smith growing up here, while his grandparents Vic and Ruth Waugh live in Spencer Park. A large group of family watched nervously as the names of players around the country were read out on TV before the Tigers pounced at pick 49. The lounge room erupted with joy as Smith was embraced by his dad, mum Lynda Santen-Smith and sister Amberly Smith and then the rest of his thrilled family. No stranger to the region, the talented East Fremantle product said he wanted to be with family for the big occasion. “All my family have always lived down here and they’ve got a great history of footy down here with Railways or Royals,” the 18-year-old said. “So to come down here and watch it with all my family — I love them all. They (family) have always been my No.1 supporters, they’re always at every game when they can get to Perth and watch me. “I come down (to Albany) a lot just to see my nan and pop and all my extended family. “I try to get down every school holidays when I could, but in between footy and cricket it was always pretty hard — but I was glad I got down for this one. “Dad always grew up here with his three brothers and loved it and I also love it here.” Smith has played senior cricket for Fremantle in the WACA Premier Competition at a club boasting the likes of Shaun and Mitch Marsh, Sam Whiteman, Ashton Turner and Jye Richardson but made the choice to pursue football. “I had to drop the under-19s State cricket to pursue my dream of playing footy,” Smith said. “I dropped that this year and decided to go full-steam ahead with footy, and luckily I think I made the right choice. Smith said he was planning to celebrate upon his return to Perth. “I’ll celebrate tonight. “My parents have to get back for work so we’ll head back to Perth tomorrow but I’ll just try and spend time with family because they are the reason I’m here today.”