VALE SHANE SMITH

The AFL Outer East would like to extend its heartfelt condolences to the family of Commission Vice Chair Shane Smith, who passed away on Wednesday morning after a battle with Motor Neurone Disease. 

Shane had been a part of the regions football/netball boards for almost 30 years, beginning when he joined the Dandenong Ranges Junior Football League (DRJFL) as a board member in 1993. He served on that board until 1996 when he went on to join the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League (YVMDFL) board.

Shane became Vice President of the YVMDFL board in 1999 and held this role for two seasons before becoming the Chairman of Selectors at Monbulk under Luke McCormick for the 2001 and 2002 seasons. 

He then re-joined the YVMDFL board and remained a part of the board until the commission was started in 2014. Shane has served a number of different roles on the commission since its inception. 

Shane, a true footballing man, played nearly 200 games for the Monbulk Football Netball Club as a left footed half back flanker and also coached for many years at the junior level, holding an active role at the Seville Junior Football Club and at Junior Interleague level. He also held an assistant coaches role at senior level with Seville as well. 

He was also a major driver in the push to re-establish Senior and Under 18 Interleague, with the YVMDFL (then AFL Yarra Ranges and now AFL Outer East) being accredited as a Victoria Country Major League in 2005. Shane was also a selector for the Under 18 and Senior Interleague sides. 

Mr Smith is a life member of the AFL Outer East and has the Best on Ground medal for the Under 18 Interleague side named in his honour. 

Commission Chair and good friend Tony Mitchell lauded Mr Smith for his deep passion for football and netball in the region and the amazing work ethic that he showed throughout his time on numerous boards. 

“Over the past 30 years Shane Smith has been one of the main driving forces behind our competition and the recent expansion of the competition to what we know it as today, the AFL Outer East,”

“His tireless work and commitment to our competition has been outstanding and his sudden passing has truly affected each and every member within the competition.”

Mr Mitchell also passed on both his and the AFL Outer East’s condolences to the Smith family. 

“To Shane’s family, we wish to extend our greatest condolences to you after the loss of a great husband, father, grandfather, friend and volunteer,”

“Shane Smith will be sadly missed as a valued member of the former YVMDFL, AFL Yarra Ranges and now AFL Outer East and as a fantastic person.”

Mr Smith’s Funeral will be held this Sunday the 22nd of December at Heritage Funerals,  Healesville – Koo Wee Rup Road, Woori Yallock.

Service begins at 11am.