Max Smith (footballer)  Max Smith (21 December 1917 – 27 October 1941) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Smith died on 27 October 1941 as a result of an injury sustained while batting in a cricket match for Werribee South two days earlier. He was struck by a ball which deflected off the bat onto his temple. The ball was bowled by Clive Smith, a former North Melbourne footballer, who was his younger brother.