The muscle-bound schoolboy racked up 31 possessions and kicked a goal in Saturday’s rollicking three-point win over Lavington.

While a handful of teenagers have played superbly in the past two seasons, including 15-year-old Corowa-Rutherglen prodigy Will Chandler, who booted five goals on debut last year, it’s hard to recall a more polished performance in a clash of top five outfits.

Quite simply, if Smith doesn’t star in only his fourth game, Lavington would still be in the top three hunt.

“He’s a great player and he’s got such strength,” elated Pigeons’ coach Damian Sexton said.

“I said to him to become a good player you have to beat good players and the Lavington coach (Simon) Curtis, he's been in their best, I think, every week.

“I also said to him that if you can knock him off, it will go a fair way to us winning the game.

“I think Curtis was still pretty good, but I think Ely was far and away the best player on the ground.”

It’s also difficult to remember a teenager who’s so well equipped, physically, to deal with the high standard of the O and M.

At 188cms and a powerhouse 88kgs,the Year 12 student can more than match most opponents.

Smith was quizzed if it was his best performance at senior level.

“Yeah, I probably got my hands on the ball a few times and released it out, so it was pretty good,” he said.

“I’ve learnt about the physicality, how the old boys use their body because you don’t get big boys in younger footy.”

Smith will return to the Bushies for the second half of the season, but Sexton will quickly scan their draw to gauge his availability.

His slashing display will guarantee he’s a marked man when he does return but, at the very least, he has the power to handle it.