Sydney Swans premiership winning defender Nick Smith’s memorable 2012 season was recognised by the University of New South Wales last week.

The 24-year-old, who studies Economics at the Australian School of Business, was named Male Athlete of the Year at the annual UNSW Blues and Sports Awards Night.

The young defender was selected above two Olympians - Australian water polo champion Johnno Cotterill and sailor Colin Cheng, who represented Singapore at the London Olympic Games - as well as UNSW-ES Bulldogs player Adam Gulden and swimmer Shaun Abbott for the award.

Smith, who was also awarded the 2012 Sydney Swans Best Clubman award, said he was proud to receive the annual award.

“It was very humbling. There were some other really strong candidates in there and to be selected from them was a big honour,” Smith told sydneyswans.com.au.

The Swans’ number 40 said both UNSW and the Swans have been very supportive of his tertiary studies, which Smith believes is of vital importance as professional athlete.

“They have been absolutely great with me and the Swans as well,” he said.

“They have encouraged me to do some study and it’s not always easy combining the two, but the University of NSW have been really flexible in shifting timetables and giving me a bit of extra help when I needed it.

“I’ve found it very beneficial for my footy to be able to do something else and to be able to get away from it.”

UNSW Athlete Development Coordinator Helen Bryson said the decision to honour Smith with the prestigious award was unanimous among the selection committee.

“It was a tough one and the selection committee threw it around quite a bit, but I think it was just the all-round performance across a long season, and it was a unanimous result,” Bryson said.

“I think winning the premiership was a huge achievement and having worked his way into the leadership group is also a great achievement.

“We’ve known Nick for a long time and we know he worked his way up from the reserves over a few years and we just can see the improvement every year and we think just 2012 elevated him to a worthy winner.”

Sydney Swans Player Welfare and Development Manager Dennis Carroll said he was not surprised to hear that Smith took out the UNSW award.

“I think Nick is an outstanding individual who dedicates appropriate time to make sure he balances his football and his studies and he maximises both areas to ensure he gets the best results,” he said.

“He’s just a really good all-rounder and I think the thing that elevated Nick in the minds of those at UNSW was the additional leadership that he had within the club when he was elevated to the leadership group.

“He’s got a great moral compass and he just dedicates himself to doing the right thing and he’s just a fantastic role model for all the other players in the club.”

Carroll added that Smith was a perfect example that tertiary education can be balanced with a professional football career.

“He shows that it can be done,” Carroll said.

“Even before the recent four-hour personal development block was introduced Nick used to do his studies on his day off or in the evening.

“For someone who is organised, like Nick is, there is definitely the ability to be able to balance 
university or tertiary degrees and football.”