Stan Smith
29/9/1932 — 26/1/2012, aged 79
South Melbourne 1951-54, 26 games, 0 goals

STAN Smith, who was instrumental in uniting the past players from South Melbourne and Sydney, has died of complications from a stomach hernia, aged 79.

Smith was recruited to South Melbourne from Middle Park YCW. He made his senior debut in round 10, 1951, a defeat of St Kilda at the Junction Oval, and went on to play 26 games, mostly as a half-back flanker.

After moving on from the Swans following the 1954 season, he established himself in business, working as a finance manager of a large property development firm in the city.

After the Swans' moved to Sydney in 1982, many former South Melbourne players from Melbourne felt neglected by the Swans' hierarchy. Many old Swans felt angry towards the club. The bad blood lasted almost two decades.

In 1999 Smith was part of a group of former players who met Kelvin Templeton, the Swans chief executive, about forming a past players' group that would include former players from both South Melbourne and Sydney.

Smith was a leader among the old Swans who agreed to let old wounds heal. He went on to serve the new incarnation of the past players' group as assistant treasurer.

Smith's former Swans colleagues noted his sartorial dress sense. John Heriot, the current president of the Sydney Swans past players' association, said: "Stan was the best-dressed man I've ever seen."

Smith wore a natty suit even when going to the footy. "He looked like he'd sold three houses on the way to the game," Heriot said.

Bob Giles, a wingman in the 1950s, said: "Stan was always dapper. He was groomed particularly well."

Smith's son Michael was a tall forward who played 32 games and kicked 43 goals for South Melbourne from 1977 to '81.

An estimated 400 mourners attended Smith's funeral at St Cecilia's Catholic Church in Glen Iris.

His wife Margaret survives him.