K Rock Football | After asking the question for more than three years, Drysdale coach Ben Carmichael’s persistence in chasing experienced metro Melbourne big man Jamie Smith has paid off.

The 205cm Smith arrives at Mortimer Oval after being cleared by Greensborough ahead of this weekend’s meeting with ladder leader Queenscliff.

The Northern League outfit is coincidentally the former club of star Hawks midfielder Ben Fennell, who will make his return from a broken arm for the clash with the Coutas.

“It’s good to finally have Jamie across; we’ve been trying to get him down to Drysdale for the last three or four years,” Carmichael said.

“He’s best mates with Ben Fennell, and they haven’t had the opportunity to play footy together – they were both on Collingwood’s VFL list together.

“It just worked out the perfect opportunity for Jamie to come across and play the second half of the year with us, and Ben being back from injury, it’s just good timing.

“We’re really excited to have him down.”

After losing Matt Pigott ahead of the season and Ben Henderson being sidelined with a knee injury, Drysdale’s ruck stocks were running low, leaving the undersized Declan Foley and, at times, James Breust, to shoulder the load in the opening half of the season.

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