WESTERN Bulldogs youngster Clay Smith last week attracted lavish praise from his coach Brendan McCartney for his fearless approach, but Smith has admitted it was "a bit scary" during his NAB Cup debut in Blacktown last Saturday night.
"I was rapt to get the first gig, and pulling the jumper on and going out there was a bit scary at first," the 18-year-old told a press conference at Whitten Oval on Wednesday.
"But it's just a game of footy and you get that first touch … "
Early in the Bulldogs' second game, against Collingwood, Smith received a slight corked hip that was "all good now", as he showed when he moved freely and completed the full training session.
"(There are) a lot of bigger bodies than what I'm used to," he said. "I'd never played a game of senior footy in my life - just under-18s and 16s stuff - so I'm looking forward to playing my first senior game when I get one."
Asked about McCartney's endorsement, Smith was matter-of-fact.
"That's sort of how I've been playing my whole life," said the left-footed midfielder from the Gippsland town of Lucknow, near Bairnsdale.
"And obviously that's the way he likes the game played, and I've come to a club and I'm lucky … that's his sort of game style."
Smith also dismissed the idea such comments would place him under undue pressure.
"No, I try not to put too much pressure on myself … just go out there and play footy," he said.
He said he realised pre-season praise didn't necessarily translate into round-one selection.
"If I get a game then I do, otherwise I'm building up to try and get one."
Smith was the Bulldogs' first pick - No. 17 overall - in last year's NAB AFL Draft after averaging 26 touches, five clearances and five tackles a game for Gippsland Power in the TAC Cup and earning All Australian selection.
He conceded he needed to work hard on his kicking and fitness, finding that Saturday night's game was "just fast and you don’t really get a break".
However, Smith enthused about the influence of the club's two best generators, skipper Matthew Boyd and Daniel Cross.
He has also struck up a good relationship with tagger Liam Picken, his appointed mentor as part of a virtual buddy system at the club.
Veteran Daniel Giansiracusa, who joined Smith at the press conference, marveled at the way youngsters like Smith now entered AFL clubs.
"They're very well trained … (and) expect to play straight away," he said.
"They train like they expect to play straight away … not in an arrogant way or an ego or anything like that. That's just the mindset of this generation, I think.
"I wasn't ready when I first came in - I was 66 kilos. These kids lift as heavy weights as I do and they're 80 kilos and ready to match it with the big guys. It's come a long way in 12 years."
