Growing up all Rohan Smith wanted was to run out at least once in the red, white and blue  – 300 games later the former Bulldogs great has been inducted in the Footscray-Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame.

On receiving the honour, Smith said it was beyond his wildest dreams to be named among some of the Bulldogs’ elite and he will continue to repay the faith in the Club that he loves.

“To play one game of senior footy was a dream come true, to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, I just have to pinch myself,” Smith said.

“I was just so humbled and so honoured to be given that tonight.

“To be inducted to the Club I grew up barracking for, to the Hall of Fame, I would never have thought about.”

Smith’s AFL journey did not come without a lot of hard work and persistence but the 40-year-old said the pay-off was more than worth it, both in his playing and coaching career.

“I had a boyhood dream to grow up and play for the Footscray Footy Club… I dedicated everything I had to make sure that came true,” he said.

“When I got the invite to come down to the under 19s by Gary Sullivan who was a recruiter at the time and played my first under 19s game I thought this is like an adrenaline rush like I’ve never had before in my life.

“To put on the colours of the red white and blue that meant so much to me and to play 300 senior games it is really a dream, really a dream.”

Known not only for his passion but his generosity and care, the former Bulldogs running defender was known for inviting teammates young and old into his home and going out of his way to ensure they received the same welcome to the Bulldogs as his did.

He recalled being approached by fellow western suburbs recruit and now Club Legend Doug Hawkins when he first entered the kennel and that inclusion set the tone for his football career.

“I just think that’s in my nature,  I think that is just the way I was brought up to always give back to people,” he said.