Playing my under-18 year with the NSW-ACT Rams in the national championships, I found myself on a half-back flank and getting coaching advice from Western Bulldogs’ 300-game Hall of Famer Rohan Smith.
Throughout that championship campaign I listened to every piece of advice Rohan had for me in his role as Rams’ backline coach. He’d often tell me to take the game on with my run-and-carry ability and back myself with my skills.
These are the exact words that rang in my ears at half-time against Collingwood recently.
I have no doubt Rohan’s coaching in those national championships landed me at the Western Bulldogs with pick 31 in the 2009 national draft. But it was his influence after I was drafted that has had the most impact.
After I was drafted, I found myself at Rohan’s house in the western suburbs of Melbourne about to embark on my first preseason at the club. He’d invited me to stay with him until the footy club sorted out a suitable host family for me to live with.
What started out as a couple of weeks’ stay ended up being a full year.
At half-time against the Pies, Rohan approached me and urged me to take the game on, back myself and play a role in what would be a significant win for our club.
He had a look in his eyes that gave me so much confidence in myself and I knew I could play a part in a win for our great club.
After the game, he gave me a hug and said he was proud of me. I didn’t want to let him down, and for him to say he was proud of me was one of the best moments I’ve had in my short career.
