As the Bulldogs players disappeared down the race after dispatching of Essendon on Sunday afternoon, Clay Smith went straight for second-gamer Roarke Smith and put his arm around his shoulder.

The two players had grown close over the previous twelve months as they both battled back from knee injuries.   

“Clay and I spent a long time together over the preseason and during the season so we’ve grown a good bond together and he’s one of my best mates at the club, he told westernbulldogs.com.au post-match.

“It just means so much running out here with him and getting the win.” 

The 19-year-old Sunbury native made his debut against the West Coast Eagles in round 21 last season before injuring his knee playing for Footscray the following week.

For a player in just his second career game, Smith’s 12 possession (at 91.7% efficiency) five mark performance was impressive but for Roarke, just being on the field alongside his teammates was enough.  

“It means so much, he said.

“Ten months not playing footy is a long time and you know you work that hard throughout those ten months just to come back and to come back and play a game in the ones is unbelievable.