Growing up in Kalkee, a small town in the Wimmera with a strong football and netball club, he was, and still is to some extent, a typical country kid.
He loved footy and he was good at it but country life had many enjoyable aspects and he was prepared to have a crack at most of them as a young man.
The rev of the motorbike was one allure and Smith used to join his mates often as they tore around the place on two wheels.
Then one day when he guesses he was about 15 years old, he crashed, broke his collarbone and was concussed. His mum, Sharon, and dad, Campbell, who played under 19s football for a time with Essendon, decided the teenager needed to make some choices.
"[They] said 'you can do this motorbike riding or you can play footy'. They put that upon me and I chose footy," Smith told AFL.com.au.
"That is when I started getting serious, I admit."
A wry smile appears across Smith's face when he admits in his laconic drawl that the motorbike riding had, in his words, got a bit out of hand as jumping had entered the equation.
Now the main jumping he does is when flying for marks or to spoil in defence. It has earned him enough of a reputation for the AIS-AFL Academy graduate to be one of the more highly rated young defenders in this year's AFL National Draft.
The progress began with a fitness regime that saw him running and doing regular weights.
"I wasn't a fitness freak as a young kid and it was something I really needed to improve on. Running was something I took on," he said.
He joined the North Ballarat Rebels development squads and then in 2011 he became a permanent member of its TAC Cup team. Midway through the year he took another step when he decided to move to St Patrick's College in Ballarat to further his football education.
It was a big decision for a young lad with a good life at home but he saw the bigger picture quickly. Once he realised his Rebels' teammates were there to get the best out of their football too he relaxed and understood the relationship he had with his parents would remain as strong as ever.
"We're pretty tight with them as well and that's the way I want to keep it," Smith said.
The impact on his football and life has been profound since he chose to get serious. He made the AIS-AFL Academy squad that toured Europe in April this year. The trip was an eye-opener for Smith who enjoyed what he saw, but also came to appreciate Australia even more.
His time with the Academy was beneficial too, the coaching of Glen Jakovich having a big influence on his thinking. He also spent a week training with St Kilda, the afternoon he spent following Justin Koschitzke in a scratch match particularly instructive.
He became renowned for his tenacity and ability to do the one-percenters as well as win the ball, representing Vic Country well in the AFL Under-18 Championships.
Some likened him to a young Dustin Fletcher; spindly arms and legs that went in all directions but made him hard to play against. Now they see a man growing into his body and have become even more excited about his prospects.
At the beginning of 2011 he weighed just 73 kilograms but now the 195-centimetre 18-year-old is listed at 88 kilograms. He is still building his body but he said the extra strength he gained this year made him more confident in his football. He has few doubts that his competitiveness is an asset.
"I like to say I'm a team player," Smith said. "I think that one-on-one stuff is a strength of my game as well and something I do take seriously. [I] just love that one-on-one contest down back."
He played in a senior premiership with Kalkee - the club's fourth successive flag - in 2011, a career highlight to date for Smith. His opponent on the day was a Rebels' teammate (and friend) Michael Close who played for Harrow-Balmoral.
He started on a half-forward flank before floating into defence, not fussed about playing against and alongside men in the local league. His description of the game showed the advantages some country kids have in developing their football.
"[It was] just typical country footy I guess, bash and crash and bodies going around everywhere," Smith said. "That is probably where it was good for me.
"At TAC I learned the quickness of the game and it was easy to adjust back to that country footy I suppose. I loved putting on that Kalkee jumper again."
He's not afraid to put on a football jumper and work. Smith guesses he played more than 30 games of football this season, representing the Rebels on the weekend and St Pat's during the week. He also spent one day a week with a local builder doing a school-based apprenticeship.
It has suited him as he is a person who likes to be on the go.
"I have always liked being outside and being active and building is something I have always enjoyed," Smith said.
Now his life looks set to take another turn as he hopes to get a chance to build an AFL career.
He understands there are no guarantees in the draft so what lies ahead is unknown, but one thing about his past is clear: Smith has done everything he could to be as good a footballer as he could be right now.
And apart from the motorbike being put away, he hasn't changed the type of bloke he is too much in order to do so. It makes him a solid package.
"I am a country boy I suppose and I always will be," Smith said. "[I'm] into camping and yabbying and stuff like that so they are pretty good hobbies of mine when I go home and just socialising with the boys."
