ADAM Dowie rates grand final-bound Western Bulldog Clay Smith the toughest player he’s coached.
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The six-time Hampden league premiership mentor coached Smith at TAC Cup club Gippsland Power in his AFL draft year of 2011.
“He and Danny Butcher used to call themselves ‘the Bruise Brothers’,” Dowie said.
“They used to see who could do something on the verge of the most reckless thing on the ground – running with the flight of the ball or smashing into a pack.
“It was like their badge of honour.”
Dowie, who will attend his first AFL grand final on Saturday, said Smith’s hardness was his best trait.
He enjoyed watching Smith compete against now-Melbourne jet Jack Viney and Greater Western Sydney half-forward Toby Greene at TAC Cup level.
“He’s probably the toughest and most competitive player I’ve coached,” Dowie said.
“He’s not overly skilled but his left-foot helps him and he’s good around goal.
“The Sydney midfield is terrific but as hard as they are, I don’t think they’re as hard as Clay.
“I don’t think he’ll play there much (on Saturday), coming off three knee reconstructions, but if he stays fit, he can go through the midfield.”
Dowie said Smith’s desire was evident in his ability to overcome three knee reconstructions in his five years in the AFL system.
“It says a lot about him – how positive he is, how resilient and how determined,” he said.
Dowie, who led Koroit to a third straight premiership on Saturday in his final game at the helm, is tipping the Western Bulldogs’ fairytale run to continue.
“One thing you can say this finals series is they’ve played without fear,” he said.
“When you play without fear, nothing holds you back.
“Whether the big stage spooks them a bit, but I don’t think so. Luke Beveridge is obviously a genius and the way he approaches things settles them.”