Roarke Smith will become the Western Bulldogs’ seventh debutant of season 2015 – the equal most of any AFL Club - after Senior Coach Luke Beveridge revealed on Thursday morning the rookie-listed half back will line-up on Sunday.

The Bulldogs have elevated Smith onto the Club’s primary list as the mid-season rookie upgrade under AFL guidelines.

Smith will be eligible to play for the remainder of the season, regardless of how many players are on the Club’s senior list.

Turning 19 next month, Smith was recruited to the Kennel with pick five overall in the 2014 NAB AFL Rookie Draft from the Calder Cannons.

Smith has been a consistent contributor across half-back for the Footscray Bulldogs since arriving at the Club, and has been named in the best players twice in the past month.



Beveridge said it will be a baptism of fire for the former Calder Cannon, but declared the teenager from Sunshine had earned his senior debut.

"He's been playing our defence at VFL level, he's a very athletic player and he's worked his way into the side.

"He's a great kid and we're sure he'll do well."



Known to enjoy a surf and skate in his spare time, Beveridge admitted he has had to curb the teenagers enthusiasm for the later during the season proper.



“He’s a free spirit Roarke. I just mentioned in there we tried to get Tony Hawk to present his jumper in Perth but we couldn’t get him out of the States.

“We’ve had to stop him from riding his skate board.”



Smith is an athletic, medium sized half-back with a capacity to go into the midfield.

An impressive vertical leap is a standout feature amongst Smith's attributes, and has shown he's more than adept at winning his own ball.

Smith will become the 38th player on the Bulldogs list to play a senior game this season on Sunday.