NICK SMITH couldn’t have imagined a tougher introduction to senior football with the Sydney Swans.

Geelong at Skilled Stadium and a rampaging Hawthorn at the MCG in 2008, followed by Collingwood at ANZ Stadium and Adelaide at AAMI this year made for a baptism of fire by any measure.

With four losses from four games, it’s no surprise that the 21-year-old is keen for a win against North Melbourne at the SCG this weekend.

“I was thinking about that this morning,” Smith told sydneyswans.com.au on Tuesday.

“Hopefully there’s no combination between me playing and us losing, and hopefully we can win one soon.”

However, Smith conceded that the winless start to his career had some clear benefits, having seen how the league’s best teams go about their football.

“It was just good to get a taste of senior footy last year and it’s definitely helped me this year, just being a bit more confident about knowing what’s coming,” he said.

“It takes a couple of games because it’s a lot different from reserves footy with the increased tempo and all that sort of thing.

“In my second game against Adelaide, I just felt a lot more comfortable. You know what’s coming, instead of coming in and out for one game.

“Playing against the good sides has also helped me out in that way.”

Drafted at No.15 in the NAB AFL Rookie Draft at the end of 2006, the former Oakleigh Chargers player has undergone a thorough apprenticeship in the Swans’ reserves.

At a time when injury has cruelled the prospects of many of the Swans’ young players, Smith has been a constant on the team sheet.

He was elevated early in 2008 for his senior debut against the Cats and was rewarded with a place on the senior list at the end of the season.

He had no doubt that his durability was a major factor in his progression from the rookie list to senior ranks. 

“It’s pretty important for a bloke like myself to play good, regular footy in the reserves and an opportunity comes eventually,” he said.

“If you can be out there and you can perform, you’ll get a chance.

“It’s pretty clear at the Swans what you’ve got to do to get a game and that’s pretty much all I’ve concentrated on.

“It wasn’t like I wasn’t going to make it; I just had to do the work and eventually an opportunity would come.”

Having played much of his footy in the midfield, Smith has spent the past two games running off the half-back flank.

With regular input from his mentor, Marty Mattner, and the support of the coaching staff, Smith said he aimed to establish his place among the Swans’ brightest young prospects as the club embarks on an era of renewal.

“[Marty] looks after me a fair bit; he goes through the tape with me and he’s really helpful. A lot of the older boys help out; you can talk to any of the older boys and they’re happy to help you out,” he said.

“There’s a lot of enthusiasm among the young guys and we’re just trying to learn off the older blokes still. There are quite a few of us coming through and it’s quite an exciting time.”