Clay Smith will make his return to competitive football this weekend in Footscray’s opening round of the VFL season.

After nine months on the sidelines after his second knee reconstruction last year, Smith will step out onto Victoria University Whitten Oval for the VFL grand final rematch on Saturday.

Footscray will take on the Box Hill Hawks at the Club’s spiritual home and will unveil their 2014 VFL premiership flag prior to the match, which will also be televised on Channel 7 from midday.

Footscray will field a strong line-up, including off-season recruit, and former Swan, Shane Biggs who returns from a hamstring injury for his first competitive outing for the Club.

Co-captain Jordan Russell said his side were looking forward to the chance to start the season off well under new coach Ashley Hansen.

“Hopefully we can start of this season with a really good win on the weekend.

“He (Hansen) is a really strategic coach, he’s really good with the boys obviously he’s still quite young himself so he remembers what it’s like to be a full time footy player or part time footy player.”

ROUND 1 – Footscray Bulldogs v Box Hill Hawks
Saturday 18 April 2015, 12:00pm
Venue: Victoria University Whitten Oval