It will be his third time donning the purple-and-gold after competing for the GVL’s under-18 squad in 2019 and then last year, and speaking after league training on Tuesday night at Seymour, Smith said last year’s experience will hold him in good stead.
“I reckon it does help,” Smith said.
“I feel a bit more relaxed this year knowing that I have done it last year and knowing what to expect.
“It is always good to develop your footy and play the best footy you can, and this is an opportunity to do that, so I thought I’d take it and give it a crack.”
Smith believes a younger, speedier GVL side will stack up well against the bigger bodies of O&M, an advantage exploited by their opposition in the 55-point win over the GVL last start.
“We had a tough game against O&M at Mooroopna, but hopefully this year is a bit different and we get ahead and can beat them,” he said.
“They were strong, pretty big-bodied. They had a few older fellas who dominated.
“This year with a new group we have a bit of speed and that is how we might be able to break them open this year.”
Smith will be joined in the team by Echuca teammates Jack Evans, Aiden Mills and Will Monahan, and the young gun is expecting O&M to bring finals-like intensity from the first bounce in Albury.
“The intensity is very high,” he said.
“You probably get a bit more nervous for these games. You obviously want to play well in these games and win.”
