Beginning his career in 1995 as a bright young prospect for St Kilda, Smith played in the winning team in the club's first AFL Cup victory, the 1996 AFL Ansett Australia Cup.
[1] He provided three good years of service before being incurring a serious anterior cruciate ligament injury requiring reconstruction late in the 1997 home and away season, missing the Saints' finals series.
[2] While he was injured throughout 1998 and did not play a game, Hawthorn recognised this talent and kept him on their list.
He was successful in this role throughout his career and in 2001 won All-Australian selection and the Peter Crimmins Medal.
He again won All-Australian selection in 2003, was vice captain in the 2005 season and consistently finished among the leadings players in the club's best and fairest award.