In the undefeated Bulldogs’ 46-26 win over Dungowan on Sunday, Smith polled the maximum three points in the best and fairest award – his first points of the season – while his try and seven goals sees him sit atop the pointscorer’s table with 40.

Moving back to Gunnedah in search of work has been a boon for him and also for the club he played all his junior footy at. “I was living at Warners Bay but playing for Greta Colts in Group 21,” said Smith, also known as DJ. “I did my shoulder half way through the season.”

The Colts didn’t fare well but the Bulldogs have won all three games this season to lead the competition, with a big clash against North Tamworth at Jack Woolaston Oval this Sunday.

“We’ve got a good side,” Smith said. “[They’re] all a good bunch of blokes. I’ve played with most of them – grown up playing with a lot of them.”

He said the Bulldogs made too many simple errors on Sunday and that allowed the Cowboys to keep coming back.

However the side’s quick young guns, Dylan Lake, Callum Hayne and Matt Brady, were good throughout the game and helped set up two late tries to seal the game.

First-grade best and fairest race:

5: Dylan Lake (Gunnedah), Brodie Sowter (Kootingal-Moonbi).

4: Shaun Ferguson (Dungowan), Scott Blanch (North Tamworth).

3: Scott Berry, Thomas Brown (Werris Creek), Kyle Cochrane (Kootingal-Moonbi), Matt Brady, David Smith (G), Fraser Evans (D), Daniel Jobson (Narrabri).

2: Jay Urquhart, Kialu Brown (Boggabri), Hayden Smith (Gunnedah).

1: Jamie Bailey, Harley Milgate (Werris Creek), Ben Haire (Boggabri), Jacob Nichols (Narrabri), Ethan Collins (Dungowan), Mitch Doring and Sam Taylor (Kootingal-Moonbi), Ben Gardner (Gunnedah), James Cooper (North Tamworth).