Sydney Swans defender Nick Smith “typifies what the Club aspires to be”.

Those are the words of Swans coach John Longmire ahead of the 29-year-old’s 200^th AFL game in Sydney’s clash with Fremantle at the SCG on Saturday night.

Longmire was all praise for the 2012 premiership backman ahead of his milestone moment.

“He’s been a wonderful servant for this footy Club,” Longmire said.

“If you’re talking about the player who you’d like to represent the Club every week, on and off the field, it would be Nick Smith. He’s consistent, he’s a quality person, he gives his all every week on some of the best forwards in the game and you can’t ask for much more than that.”

Smith has played more than 20 senior games every season since 2011 and has long been tasked with stopping the best small forwards in the competition.

He considers Steve Johnson, who’s now the Swans forwards coach, Eddie Betts and Cyril Rioli the toughest opponents he has faced and the small defender is rarely beaten.

Smith earned All-Australian selection in 2014 and took out the Swans’ Best Clubman award in 2012.

The Ashburton United junior claimed Sydney’s Most Improved award in 2011 and the Club’s Rising Star award in 2009.

But the list of accolades – albeit short despite the grandeur of his road to 200 – appeared lightyears away as Smith battled the disappointment of National Draft rejection.

He was eventually met with an AFL lifeline when Sydney signed him at the 2007 Rookie Draft, held in November of 2006, but he managed just 13 games across his first two seasons in Swans colours.

He had honed his trade in the TAC Cup for the Oakleigh Chargers and as captain of Scotch College, one of Melbourne’s most prestigious private schools.

Evergreen backmen Heath Grundy and Jarrad McVeigh, the ever-reliable Dane Rampe and Jake Lloyd and a star-in-the-making in Callum Mills stand alongside Smith in defence.

And almost 12 years after donning the red and white, Smith fits like a glove among the Swans’ sturdy back six.

Longmire said Smith’s attention to detail was the key to his consistency.

“He’s so mentally strong,” Longmire said.

“He applies himself to his tasks and profession in such a professional way. His ability to be able to get the most out of himself during the week and then really hone in on who he’s playing on and what he needs to do for that particular week is first-class.

“He’s so mentally strong and he gets some of the biggest challenges in the game and there could be more of those challenges this week against Fremantle.

“But he’ll be absolutely about the team this week. It won’t be about Nick. He’s very understated and it will be about doing the best thing for the team.”

Smith is an ornament in Swans circles but grossly underrated among the wider football community.

Only former Geelong Cats stalwart Tom Lonergan has played more senior games (209) for the return of zero Brownlow Medal votes, while Smith is streets ahead of former North Melbourne defender Ross Henshaw in third (167).

Of all current AFL footballers, Collingwood’s Tyson Goldsack (161) is also a long way behind Smith.

But the milestone man will reach a double-ton on Saturday as he continues to fly under the radar and said preparation was paramount to his lengthy knock.

“Training hard, not getting ahead of where I’m at, always trying to improve – I think they’re probably the things that have held me in good stead,” Smith said.

“Like anyone who’s played 200 games there’s a bit of luck but you’ve got to look after yourself as well.

“Once the season gets going it’s a cycle every week. You play a game, you’re pretty sore, you look after yourself and then get your mind ready to attack the next week. I haven’t done anything extraordinary – it’s just the way I’ve gone about it.

“I’ve got my sights set on this week. It’s a good time to briefly look back and reflect on how many games I’ve played and there have been some barriers on the way and it is great to get there. But we’ll just be looking to get the win this week.”