THERE'S a chance the Western Bulldogs could have their second player name change in the past 10 years, with midfielder Clay Smith considering using his newly hyphenated surname in a professional sense. 

The 24-year-old married partner Sarah O'donohue in October, and has started the process to add her surname to his. 

The couple have changed their names to O'donohue Smith on Instagram, and the 55-game Bulldog says he's yet to decide if his new surname will make it to the AFL Season Guide and club team sheet. 

"It's not official yet, but it will be," Smith told the club's website.

"It's more something I've taken on for Sarah's side of the family.

"There were two girls and no more O'donohue's. It meant a lot to her and her family.

"I don't know if I'll change it for footy but legally we'll both have hyphenated names and so will the kids."

If Smith changes his name, he'll be the second Bulldog since 2007 to do so after Brian Lake legally changed his surname from Harris. 

Other recent players to alter their name during their playing careers include Max Rooke (from Jarad Rooke in 2006), Jasper Pittard (from McMillan-Pittard in 2010), Heritier Lumumba (from Harry O'Brien in 2013) and Beau Maister (from Wilkes in 2013).

The wedding was held at Gum Gully Farm in Silvan South at the foot of the Dandenong Ranges, and the couple honeymooned in Mexico before Smith returned for the start of pre-season training. 

"I haven't got the ring on at the moment, she'll kill me," he said.

"It was unreal. The day went pretty much perfectly – we had good weather and then we shipped off to Mexico for a few weeks and LA for a few days."

Smith, who has endured three knee reconstructions in his career, is looking for an injury-free season after managing eight AFL games this year.