While Sam Mitchell, Brad Sewell and Jordan Lewis shoulder most of the Hawks' midfield grunt work, Smith, now in his third AFL season, gives Hawthorn much of its run and carry.
With his raking left foot, Smith regularly gains 70m for the Hawks in one possession.
Before Friday night's game, Smith was averaging 20.5 possessions and 3.4 inside 50s a game in 2013, and had kicked 17.15.
It was enough for the Swans to send star midfielder Dan Hannebery to his side at the start of the qualifying final, while Ben McGlynn also spent time on him during the match.
The Swans pair made life tough for Smith and he was subdued by his standards, finishing the game with 13 disposals and four inside 50s.
But the 24-year-old never stopped working.
A great example came at the five-minute mark of the third quarter. After making a searching up-and-back lead, Smith got the ball and kept running.
Hannebery is a good runner in his own right, but Smith ran him into the ground and, with no one on his hammer, centred the ball to Max Bailey, who marked and goaled.
Smith told AFL.com.au after Friday night's game he enjoyed his battles with Hannebery and McGlynn.
"It was good fun. It's an honour to get tagged, it means you're doing something for the side – so keep bringing it," Smith said.
"When you get someone sitting on you, you try to do the team things, you make two on ones, things like that.
"I probably sacrificed my game a little bit but it was good to get a couple of touches in the end because I was having a bloody 'mare'.
"But most of all it was just good to get the win."
The Hawks booked a home preliminary final with their 54-point win over the Swans, and they will play the winner of next Friday night's Geelong-Port Adelaide semi-final.
Smith said the Hawks would take a lot confidence into that clash after beating last year's premiers two weeks in a row (they also beat the Swans by 12 points at the SCG in round 23).
"The Swans are a very good side, we respect them a lot," Smith said.
"To have two good wins over them, especially one away at the SCG, gives us real confidence heading into the prelim final.
"We should get 'Buddy' (Lance Franklin) and Cyril (Rioli) back too. They're two absolute superstars of the game, so to get them back can only make us better."
Twitter: @AFL_Nick
