When the Western Bulldogs defeated Adelaide at Football Park in round one of the 1992 season on this day 25 years ago, it kicked off a wonderful season that would see the Bulldogs - almost banished from the AFL only three seasons earlier - go all the way to a preliminary final, before eventually falling to Geelong.

While Doug Hawkins, Chris Grant and Steve Kolyniuk starred in the round one win over the Crows, another Bulldog was getting his first taste of senior AFL footy on that day.

18-year-old Rohan Smith, a local boy from Yarraville, had five kicks and took one mark on that Sunday back in 1992, and while his impact on that particular day was perhaps minor, his contribution to the Western Bulldogs in the ensuing quarter of a century could only be described as major.

Smith became a familiar sight over the next 15 seasons on the field, more often than not charging along a wing at speed before delivering a precision kick to a teammate in the forward line, if not kicking a goal himself.

By the time he played his 300th and last game in 2006, Smith had achieved more than most as an AFL player, including 12 finals appearances, All Australian selection in 1997 and 2003, playing for his country in the International Rules series of 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2003, and an EJ Whitten Medal as Victoria's best player in a state-of-origin match against the Allies in 1998.

Smith has continued to pour his heart and soul into the Western Bulldogs since his last on-field appearance, in a variety of roles. While Smith never got to taste premiership success as a player, he was part of the club's coaching panel in 2016, the year that saw the Bulldogs win a flag after a 62-year drought.

Smith is now responsible for the Bulldogs' AFL Development program and still giving his all to the club, as he has been since debuting as a fresh-faced youngster on this day a quarter of a century ago.