The day after Saturday's loss to Collingwood, the Greater Western Sydney youngster had flown to Victoria to be with his ailing grandmother in Lara, near Geelong.
His grandmother died on Tuesday and he flew back to Sydney on Wednesday night, confident he would be fine to play for the Giants on the Saturday.
Smith trained with the team on the Thursday before flying back to Victoria that night for the funeral the following day. After paying his respects to his grandmother and spending some brief time with his family, Smith boarded his fourth flight in six days to Sydney the following day's game.
Anyone, let alone a 19-year-old living almost 1000km from his family, could be excused for not being in a fit state to play football after such a tumultuous week.
Smith not only played, but starred in the Giants second ever win, gathering 21 possessions and becoming the seventh player from the AFL's newest club to earn a NAB AFL Rising Star nomination.
The diminutive midfielder admits the week took its toll but he never had any problems focusing once he entered Skoda Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
"I had a lot of support from the club but I was very drained to be honest from all the flights and the emotional side of things," Smith said.
"Once I got going it was easy to do my role for the team."
Smith felt a strong sense of community among his teammates as he dealt with his grandmother's passing and says the youthful Giants have formed a tight bond with so many players of the same age sharing the same journey.
But some friendships have had to blossom after some less than flattering first impressions from junior days.
Smith said he used to have his moments with Toby Greene and Liam Sumner in his days with the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup.
"I remember having words with Toby in a final against Oakleigh when they beat us by 120 points," he said.
"I played with Tom Bugg and I've been good mates with him for a long while. To have guys like him, Dylan Shiel and Adam Treloar all at the same club is great," he said.
Smith has become particularly close to fellow Geelong Falcons alumni Taylor Adams. The pair were taken by the Giants with the 13th and 14th picks in the 2011 NAB AFL Draft and now share digs at the Giants' Breakfast Point facility.
Smith said Adams is one of several Giants who could challenge for a possible eighth nomination before the season is out.
"I think a lot of the boys could challenge. Sam Frost has been in good form lately and he'd be a chance too," he said.
As for who could take the Rising Star award at season's end, Smith is absolutely certain which of his teammates deserves to get his hands on the prize.
"You'd think Jeremy Cameron has to win it without a doubt."
Luke Holmesby is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter - @AFL_Luke
