After growing up together on the same street in the small town of Meningie, it is remarkable how similar the life journeys of footballers Justin Smart and Brodie Martin have been.
Smart, now a development squad member with Adelaide, spent his youth watching former Crow Martin progress from the country league to the highest level.
Martin started at the Meningie Bears in the River Murray Football League, before playing for Sturt in the SANFL and going on to play 38 games in an injury-interrupted career at the Crows.
Smart also played for the Bears, then had a stint at Woodville-West Torrens before joining the SANFL Crows development squad in their first year in the competition, making his debut in 2014.
He’s had a break from the squad in recent years but re-joined for the 2019 season and played his first game in Round 17 against the Eagles.
When he’s not pulling on the tricolours, the forward returns home to play for the Bears, this time with Martin at the helm as player-coach.
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Over the years, Martin has always taken a keen interest in Smart’s sporting career.
“I’ve known him since he was about eight and he was a bit of a pest as a kid,” Martin laughed.
“He was pretty talented and I always wanted to see him do well.
“I’d like to think I played a part in his development and tried to help him through the ranks.”
Martin in action for the Crows in 2013
The pair even got the chance to play a SANFL match together in 2015, a moment neither will forget.
“There was one game in particular against the Eagles where Justin got some tough words from me,” Martin said.
“He hurt his finger halfway through the game and was trying to show me his finger at half-time and was asking ‘what do you reckon, is it okay, is it broken?’
“I told him in no uncertain terms that I didn’t give a s*** about his finger and to strap it up and we’ll worry about it at the end of the game.
“Little did I know that Justin was in for surgery a couple days later and missed 12 weeks of football.”
Despite the injury, the opportunity to play alongside one of his idols became one of Smart’s most cherished football memories.
“He’s been an idol of mine growing up, coming from a small country town in Meningie,” Smart said.
“I was always pestering him to have a kick and a catch and watching him firstly make it onto an AFL list and then watching the resilience he’s shown.
“He’s been a massive part of my life.”
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When Smart got the call from SANFL Crows coach Heath Younie to join the development squad program, Martin was one of the first people he went to for advice.
“Brodie has always been a big advocate of playing at the highest level,” Smart said.
“So, when Heath called me to see if I would come back out and give SANFL another crack, he encouraged me to do that and chase my dreams.
“He’s always been very encouraging of myself but he always brings me down and keeps me level headed, he doesn’t let me get ahead of myself.”
The similarities between the two country lads do not end on the field, with both pursuing a career in the same industry.
Since Martin finished at the Crows, he has been working as a Project Coordinator for a construction company, while Smart is in his final year of studying a Construction Management and Economics degree.
“I’ve followed in his footsteps throughout life, whether it’s footy or even work” Smart said.
“I’m a mini Brodie I guess.”
