The Gunnedah and Kootingal forwards both polled the three North West Farm Machinery AGCO Best and Fairest Award points after their sides, ironically, registered 36-32 wins over Dungowan and Werris Creek.

Smith’s three-point display moved him up to eight points, equal with young Dungowan prop Fraser Evans in third.

The lock has been one of Gunnedah’s best all season, agreed coach Sean Hayne.

“Hayden has been playing well,” Hayne said after Sunday’s come from behind win.

“It was one of his better games of the year.

“Other than that we were disappointing.”

Hayne said the Bulldogs need to improve markedly if they are to threaten North Tamworth in this Saturday’s big game at Kitchener Park.

The Bulldogs are also celebrating Old Boys day and hope the return of some old faces, who have been instrumental in much of the Bulldog success over the past three or four decades, inspires the current crop to repel the Bears.

NORTH WEST FARM MACHINERY AGCO BEST & FAIREST

12: Scott Blanch (North Tamworth).

10: Brodie Sowter (Kootingal).

8: Fraser Evans (Dungowan), Hayden Smith (Gunnedah).

7: Jake McManus (NT).

6: Kyle Cochrane (K), Kialu Brown (Boggabri).

5: Dylan Lake, David Smith (G), Jay Urquhart (Bogg), Brenton Cochrane, Daniel Jobson (Narrabri), Scott Berry, Thomas Brown, Cody Tickle (Werris Creek), Ryan Martin, Sam Taylor (K).

4: Shaun Ferguson (Dungowan), Phil Beaton, Mitchell Doring (K), KC Edmonds, Callum Hayne (G), Dwight Millgate (WC), Les Boney (N).

3: Kieran Williams (WC), Matt Brady (G), Nathan Maguire, Dylan Manicaros (D), James Cooper, Keiran Fisher, Tristram Morris (NT).

2: Mitch Campbell, Nathan Miller (Bogg), Jason Smith (G), Lochie Collins, Matt Wilson (D), Jacob Nichols (N).

1: Jamie Bailey, Harlee Milgate (WC), Ben Haire (Bogg), Brady Jenkins (N), Ethan Collins, Corey Manicaros (D), Ben Gardner (G), Chris Hunt (NT), Jordan Sharpe, Nic Zahra (K).