Former Western Bulldogs star Clay Smith chats his boxing career, concussion and CTE risk

A former Western Bulldogs star has switched the Sherrin for the boxing gloves and will face a 1990s Carlton footballer next. But as the issue of concussion and CTE grows, he remains unconcerned.

Clay Smith, former Western Bulldogs player now boxer. He is fighting Damien Lock. Saturday night. Picture: Nik Sfiry

He’s got “bombs in both hands” and they call him “Showtime”.

On Saturday night Western Bulldogs premiership star Clay Smith will be hoping his potent right fist can unlock his second professional boxing victory … against 1990s Carlton footballer Damien Lock.

“Only one of my last four fights has gone to the second round,” Smith said from Team Ellis’s gym in East Keilor this week.

“I’ve got a bit of pop in my shots and it’s probably the best camp I’ve had to be honest.

“It’s the fittest, fastest and strongest I’ve felt for a long time. I’ll definitely be looking for another KO. I don’t really want it to go for four rounds.

“There’ll definitely be a fair bit of power behind the shots. (Lock has had) 11 pro fights, so he’s had a fair bit more ring time – but what he has in experience, we have in youth.”

Former Western Bulldog Clay Smith is now a boxer.

Players selected either side of Smith in the 2011 AFL national draft have just started celebrating their 250th games.

Last month it was Lachie Neale (pick 58), last week it was Brandon Ellis (pick 15) and later this year it could be Bradley Hill (33).

Smith was a first-round pick hungry for hard work. Growing up his bedroom in Bairnsdale resembled a shrine to his football talents.

There were jumpers from Gippsland Power, Lucknow, Vic Country as well as medals and ribbons from cross country days all proudly on display.

The toughest part for recruiters assessing Smith was his kicking. It wasn’t the prettiest action, but it was actually pretty damn effective.

“I’m the ugliest looking left footer going around,” Smith said.

“But I always thought it didn’t let me down as much as people thought. I remember Matty Suckling and Christian Howard telling me I was letting the left footers down, because they’re all beautiful looking kicks.”

Smith famously kicked four goals in the first half of the 2016 preliminary final against Greater Western Sydney.

The hard nut turns 31 next week, but played the last of 55 AFL games when he was just 24.

“It took me two and a half years to watch my finals series back, because I finished footy about a year later. I wasn’t ready to finish,” Smith said.

“It was hard to relive those moments, even though they were good memories. I played 13 games in a row and to have the impact I did in finals gave me fulfilment out of my career.

“I was just lucky that my knee held up the year we won it, 62 years after the last one. You never know when they’re going to come around again.

“If I didn’t have that year and the grand final then I wouldn’t look back on it as fondly.”

When Smith was 18 he got a giant tattoo that says “Live the dream” across his chest.

So after punching out of football with a premiership, Smith is punching on with his next dream.

Shane Biggs and Clay Smith celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2016 AFL Grand Final. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s something I’ve always lived by,” he said.

“If you’ve got a dream then live it, take every chance possible and don’t live with any regrets.

“We grew up with nothing and had to work our arse off for everything we had and I didn’t like things being taken away. I’ve always been a motivated person.

“When I started working in construction people thought, ‘He’ll be a soft bloke playing AFL’.

“But I did steel fixing for four years – one of the hardest jobs in the building industry – and blokes would look at me and just be like, ‘Why?’

“I just get competitive. I’m racing blokes to lift bars, lifting more than what I should … that’s just who I am. I like hard work.”

He first boxed for the fitness gains as a 14-year-old during pre-seasons in Bairnsdale.

“Boxing is the fittest you get – whole body movement,” he said.

The AFL recently banned boxing at training. But back in the day players would often body spar in the Whitten Oval ring.

Adam Cooney was probably the best of the fighters and when Cameron Mooney was employed as a specialist coach he would take a few of the Bulldogs boys out to spar.

Smith is $1.30 favourite to defeat Lock at Melbourne Pavilion on a night in which fellow Team Ellis boxer Mitch Leek will fight for a national crown – the Australian middleweight title.

Leek and Smith are similarly sized and have worked extensively together. Smith’s first fight for Team Ellis was against reality TV star Luke Packham, known for his appearances on The Block and Love Island.

Smith knocked Packham out in the first round. If Smith defeats Lock on Saturday night then another professional match against a former AFL star could be on the cards.

Mitch Robinson would probably be a weight division out of reach, but someone like Dane Swan or Kayne Pettifer might just fit the bill.

Smith in the ring. Picture: Nik Sfiry

The obvious question is about CTE and concussion. It is the biggest issue in football and Smith has placed a target on his head inside the ring. Does that worry him?

“Nah, there’s a danger walking across the road these days,” he said.

“We spar with headgear, the coaches look after you and if there is any trouble you sit out for a couple of weeks.

“With any competitive sport there is a chance you’re going to get hurt. Whether you’re playing netball, playing soccer, there’s a chance of injury everywhere.

“I’ve never lived my life in fear and I never will and if it’s something that makes me happy I’ll continue to do it.

“Unless there is a serious health issue, like if I get several concussions or got knocked out badly, then I’d look into it.

“But for now I haven’t had too many troubles. I had a couple of concussions playing footy, but for the way I played two in seven years is pretty good.

“A lot of the sparring you’re wearing 16oz gloves. They’ve got a lot of padding and they’re controlled spars.

“You’re still trying to hit each other, but if you get a good shot on them you’re not trying to go in for the kill.

“It’s a bit different on fight night. In the pros now you’re wearing 10oz gloves and you want to finish it.

“But sparring is all controlled.”

So, what’s it like flushing a clean one?

“It’s a good feeling, it really is,” Smith said.

“I’ll have a beer with Lock after this fight. But for those 12 minutes that we’re scheduled to be in there he’s the enemy. I’m trying to knock his head off.

“I’ve got white line fever – once I cross that line or jump in the ring it’s go time. It’s switched on, it’s either him or me and I don’t like losing.”

Smith also doesn’t like being stagnant. That is what brought him to boxing. For all the talk of concussion, placing his head on the line has actually done wonders for his mental health.

“I was probably going through some of my worst stages at that time, and I needed something to focus on and give me motivation and direction again,” Smith said.

“Not being able to play sport I just need something to compete in and boxing gives me that. I’m not an aggressive person outside the ring, but definitely am inside it.

Smith celebrates in the ring just as hard as he did after a goal in the AFL. Picture: Nik Sfiry

Smith after one of his four majors in the 2016 preliminary final. Picture: AAP Image/Craig Golding

“I was heavy – I was about 91kg, so I lost a fair bit pretty quick, I had a little gut on me, but I played at 85kg and I’m fighting at 76.2kg.”

His improvement will come technically. Trainer Tupou Tuiniua wants Smith to take his time in the ring instead of letting all his punches go at once.

That is what professional boxing is about. Be patient and land good shoots, rather than go for the kill straight away.

“He’s a tough and rough rugged bruiser,” Tuiniua said.

“The way that he fights is similar to the way he played footy. He’s definitely got some power in both hands, specifically that right hand.”

But staying composed is hard when there are 1000 people in the crowd making noise.

“You get in a fight night and the crowds there, the energy is up and you land one or two and it’s all a buzz,” Smith said.

“I’m trying to box more and keep my shape, but most of my fights turn into brawls.”

Smith lives in Newport these days and coached Point Cook from second-last to a grand final in his first season in charge last year.

“I’m not much of a yeller,” he said.

“I love being able to give back and see the change and improvement in players and probably see the enjoyment they get out of it.”

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge invited Smith back to Whitten Oval on his days off last year to see learn how AFL coaches operate.

Smith sympathised with Beveridge over criticism of his team selection.

“You’re damned if you do and damned if you don’t,” Smith said.

“You’ve got to try things and it’s probably a bit of a warning too that your spot is not just given, you’ve got to earn it.”

The unanswered question is how far can the Bulldogs’ best take them in 2024. Is the club capable of pinching a premiership?

“Honestly, if I look at their list now, I think so, yes,” Smith said.

What about Smith’s best move? With his boots hung up and the gloves on what is going to be the weapon that rattles cages in the ring?

“The right hand,” Smith said. “It hasn’t let me down in any of my fights yet.”

Tickets available at teamellis.com.au
Stream the fight at teamellis.tv

Originally published as Former Western Bulldogs star Clay Smith chats his boxing career, concussion and CTE risk