A two-time Upper Murray league best and fairest winner and dual club champion with Federal, Smith joined Myrtleford in 1963 and finished runner-up to Frank Hodgkin in the club's best and fairest in his debut year.

Strong as an ox and brilliantly skilled on both sides of his body, Smith was temporarily lost to the O and M when he joined Richmond and played 51 VFL games in three seasons alongside two other rising stars from the league, John Perry (Wodonga) and Neil Busse (Benalla).

Legendary Richmond coach Tom Hafey said Smith would have been a walk-up start when the Tigers won the 1967 flag, but he had fallen out of love with the city and was back at Myrtleford to play out a 176-match career laced with highlights.

Three times he finished in the top three of the Morris Medal behind Gary Williamson (1967), Jeff Hemphill (1969) and John Clancy (1970).

But, most significantly he won the Saints' best and fairest in their one and only premiership year of 1970.

The Saints beat Wodonga in the preliminary final by a point before powering home to beat Wangaratta Rovers in a famous grand final win.

Smith held down full-back and centre half-back for much of his career, but performed well up forward when selected to play in the O and M inter-league team.

Smith ended up with a record equalling three club best and fairests for Myrtleford with the last coming in 1974 before finishing his career at Yackandandah.

His two sons Brent and Corey played for Myrtleford.

He was a trainer when the Saints again made a grand final in 2001, but died two years later, aged 61.