Clay Smith thought his chance to coach a club in 2027 had passed.
Local jobs were quickly filling up as the Western Bulldogs premiership player planned his return from a year living in the Western Australian Goldfields town of Kalgoorlie.
A handy boxer with some bouts under his belt, the 33-year-old, who played 55 matches for the Doggies, was planning to jump back into the ring.
That was until a phone call from Thomson co-president Lachie Young adjusted Smith’s thinking.
And he has a former Bulldogs teammate, who also coaches locally, to thank.
“I think it was Sammy Lloyd who put my name forward to him,” Smith said
“I just got a message and went down there to catch up with a couple of them from the footy club.
“It was a pretty open and honest chat about where they’ve been over the last couple of years, what was going on and the direction they want to go with.
“We really aligned on who I am and what they want.
“I had another meeting a couple of days later and within a week put pen to paper, so it was a pretty easy transition.
“I’m a very open and honest guy, and what you see is what you get with me.
“I’ve lived a lot and experienced a lot in my footy career and in life, and I try and take a lot of those learnings and things that I’ve done in my life into my coaching.”
Smith, who has signed for two years as a non-playing coach, has no illusions about the challenge facing him.
Thomson’s four wins in 2026 were its worst return in more than a decade.
However, it’s that challenge which excited him.
“I don’t like going to a club that’s walked straight out of success,” he said.
“I feel like you don’t have to coach there, or you’re walking into someone else’s success and… it just doesn’t mean as much – you don’t build it yourself.”
“I’ve always been one in my life to like a challenge and jump in the deep end and just see if you can swim.
“And this is no different. They’ve been a successful club and won a lot of flags.
“You go through your highs and your lows, and it’s about rebuilding that club back up and doing it the right way and trying to make it sustainable.”
Smith has wasted no time in sinking his teeth into the role, with meetings already planned with prospective recruits, including some in his contact book.
“I’m actually about to go to a meeting tonight (Monday) and catch up with a couple,” he said.
“I said to the club you can use my name to try and bring a few people in, and I’m happy to sit down in meetings and stuff.
“We all put our heads together as a football club and try and get to what’s best.”
In further positive news, captain and GDFNL team of the year member Jordan Camm has re-signed with the club.
X: @krockfootball
