When the siren sounded at Subiaco Oval in Perth on September 16, 2006, it not only signalled the end of the Bulldogs’ season, it also marked the end of long-time Club servant Rohan Smith’s career after exactly 300 games.
After announcing his retirement before the finals series, Smith said then coach Rodney Eade wanted to use the veteran’s final season as inspiration for a young group loaded with potential.
“We had Coons (Adam Cooney), Farren Ray, all these players, Griff (Ryan Griffen), he wanted to try and sort of spark that a little bit to get that, not emotional win, to really drive winning a final,” Smith said on the Freedom in a Cage podcast.
“I'd made the decision about six weeks prior that I would retire and I needed to play every single game and two finals to play my 300th. We had to win a final.”
‘I’ll spew up!’: A retrospective
And win they did, the eighth placed Bulldogs setting a date with the eventual premier in Perth after disposing of the much-fancied Magpies to the tune of 41-points.
An emotional man at the best of times, and in the best possible way, it wasn’t until long-time teammates Chris Grant and Brad Johnson hoisted him onto their shoulders following the bitter 74-point loss did it hit him.
“I was actually really good, I was ok, and then Jonno and Granty lifted me up and I then... I don't shy away from the fact that I'm a very emotional person, and it's ok to cry. I make no apologies for that,” he said.
“It was pure emotion, just to think that my footy career is finished. It's finishing and I didn't want it to finish. And getting carried off and walking down that race at Subiaco for the last time was really, really emotional. I thought, I'm not going to feel this ever, ever again.”
It's been over a decade since that day but the day still sits fresh in the now Bulldogs development manager’s mind.
“It hurt,” he recalled. “I didn't want it to finish.”
But looking back now he has nothing but fond memories.
“To get that win against Collingwood and to fly to Perth that next week to play in my 300th was an amazing experience because I didn't think I'd make it,” he said.
“In the end I was lucky to play 299 or 298 rather than unlucky to play 300, so it was good to get there, it was great to get there.
“To play 300 games for the club I grew up barracking for was amazing.”
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