TIME and again the Western Bulldogs have shown they have been able to rise up and overcome enormous adversity right throughout 2016.
The Bulldogs players are clearly built of stern stuff and there's no better example of their fighting spirit than determined forward Clay Smith and what he has been able to produce in the latter half of this season.
Smith booted a career-high four first-half goals to be the spark the Bulldogs needed, as they held on to clinch a stirring six-point preliminary final victory over Greater Western Sydney at Spotless Stadium on Saturday evening.
Smith, who was playing in his 46th AFL game, also finished the match with 26 disposals, six clearances and eight tackles to be the epitome of the resolute Bulldogs team.
Midway through this season, Smith returned from his third consecutive knee reconstruction, fighting his way back into the team through sheer hard work and maintaining a never say die attitude.
Smith's courage and willpower have been severely tested throughout his five-year career and once again he stood up to the challenge that was confronting him, leading his side to their first Grand Final appearance since 1961.
Performance against Greater Western Sydney
In what was a tight and willing contest, where kicks were hard to come by, Smith was able to find space like no one else on the ground.
It was he who kicked the first goal of the game, bursting through a bunch of Giants players to open the Bulldogs' account after five minutes.
As the momentum of the game ebbed and flowed in a pulsating opening half, it was Smith, more than most, who ensured his team would not allow the free-wheeling Giants to get the game on their terms.
One of the Giants' trademarks is the way they use the ball cleanly and efficiently from the back half. But the pressure Smith and co. applied meant they never really got the game completely on their terms.
Smith's second goal for the game came in exactly that fashion as he disrupted what would usually be a clean exit for the Giants by courageously spoiling in front of Shane Mumford. The ball spilled to ground and Toby McLean found Smith while charging into an unguarded goal.
The Giants did not give enough respect to Smith and they were made to pay. Two of his goals came because the Giants were loose checking at stoppages.
With the Bulldogs hanging on to a two-point lead halfway through the second quarter, Smith received a handball from Lachie Hunter and finished clinically around the corner on his left foot.
Smith's fourth major came with two minutes remaining in the second term as he lost Lachie Whitfield, who was caught ball watching in traffic. It was the final goal of the second term and one that also saw the Bulldogs take a nine-point lead into the major break.
Smith's goals dried up in the second half, but not so his impact.
The clever centering ball he sent to the top of the goal square, that led to Zaine Cordy snap goal (that brought the Dogs within five points) at the backend of the third term was testament to the impact he made across the night.
A visibly emotional Clay Smith embraces teammate Caleb Daniel after the win. Picture: AFL Photos
The stats sheet
| K | H | D | M | T | G | B | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Q2 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Q3 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Q4 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 16 | 10 | 26 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 1 |
How will he fare against the Sydney Swans?
Smith will be asked to play an extremely important role in next week's Grand Final, with his forward pressure paramount in forcing the Swans' defenders into mistakes.
Geelong failed to apply adequate forward pressure in Friday night's preliminary final and were made to pay as Dane Rampe and Zak Jones set the Swans from defence time and again.
If Smith and fellow forwards such as Luke Dahlhaus, Josh Dunkley and Tory Dickson can disrupt the Swans' defensive connection then that will go a long way to the Dogs taking it right up to the minor premiers in the season's decider.
It will be hard for Smith to replicate the four goals he nailed against the Giants but if he can impact the scoreboard a couple of times and bring the defensive heat he will have done his job.
The Bulldogs forward wasn't afraid to get stuck in the face of Giant Shane Mumford. Picture: AFL Photos
