If anybody is in a position to understand what Bulldogs rookie Roarke Smith is currently going through, it's the man who shares a surname with him, teammate Clay Smith.
Roarke Smith ruptured an ACL during the third quarter of the Bulldogs' match against Brisbane last Thursday, the second time he has sustained such an injury. It's one that will see him on the sidelines for a lengthy period.
Speaking ahead of the Bulldogs' flight to Queensland for tonight's JLT series match against Gold Coast, Clay Smith - who has been through the knee reconstruction and rehabilitation process three times himself - said he would provide Roarke as much support as possible.
"We were very close along [the journey] in his first [reconstruction] and my second one," he said.
"We work really closely together and I actually spoke to him again last night [Tuesday] and just checked in on him to see how he was going.
"I'll probably go back and see him out in Sunbury when we get back from Gold Coast, just to go in and see him and take some nice food, but he's in pretty good spirits at he moment."
Smith said that while it's hard to find the right words to say to someone in Roarke's situation, support in all forms is critical to the recovery process, particularly the early stages.
"There's not a whole lot [you can say to someone who requires a knee reconstruction].
"It's just a long process that you've got to go through and you've just got to out support around them, love around them and just try to keep them in as good and healthy a frame of mind as you can.
"You know that you can get back, it's just getting through that time.
Smith himself has enjoyed an injury-free pre-season for the first time in four years, and is looking forward to being part of a near full-strength side to take on the Suns tonight and ensuring the team is in good shape for Round 1.
"It's my first pre-season in probably four years. I haven't done one since my second year since being at the club. It's nice to get a full block and probably prepare for a full season of footy and stand up to that.
"[We're looking at] really putting in a good four-quarter performance and prepping ourselves for Round 1. That's what we're aiming to do. The result isn't a big deal but we want to go out and play some good footy and really get the team spirit back together."
The Bulldogs' match against the Suns at Metricon Stadium will commence at 4:50pm (5:50pm EDST) this evening
