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By Michael Whiting

Athletic Gold Coast SUNS ruckman Zac Smith admits two weeks in the reserves did him the world of good.

After being arguably the most eye-catching of the SUNS first-year players in 2011, the 205cm Rockhampton product has struggled in the first half of his second season.

Despite averaging the same number of disposals – and slightly more hit-outs – each contest this year, Smith was recently dropped to the reserves.

His work-rate around the ground was down, and his effectiveness at stoppages nowhere near the level of his debut season.

But after two weeks in the reserves, Smith bounced back with a bang against North Melbourne in round 11 before the Suns' bye.

He had 17 disposals, six marks and 22 hit-outs in a display more reminiscent of that which saw him finish third behind Dyson Heppell and Luke Shuey in last year's NAB AFL Rising Star Award.

The 22-year-old said being dropped was hard to take, but was a lesson he had learned from.

"I think it was the best thing for me at the time. I did enjoy it as well," Smith said.

"The big thing was I went down with the right attitude and played a couple of reasonable games of footy.

"I think my first half of the season hasn't been up to the standard of what I set last year. I really want to improve and have a really good second half of the season.

"What I've learned is the game is continually growing and can go faster than you pretty quick, so you’ve just got to keep improving every week, every session."

Smith faces the biggest test in the League on Saturday, matched up against West Coast dynamic duo Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui.

The SUNS put in one of their best performances of 2011 when they lost by just 18 points to the Eagles at Patersons Stadium.

Smith said he and rucking partner Tom Hickey were excited about taking on their West Coast rivals.

"It's going to be a fun day. I've been over there once and played those two before and I think we did all right," he said.

"Not sure who'll be playing, but if it's Hickey, him and I had a pretty good game on the [previous] weekend (against North Melbourne) and we'll take it to them and learn from them. We'll definitely compete.

"If you go into every game and you're hard at it, you come away with a chance, regardless of the ability of the team."

The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL