AT THE end 2013 Isaac Smith became widely known as one of Hawthorn’s most damaging players but the tag he was most interested was the one achieved on the last Saturday in September.

In the weeks leading up to the 2013 finals series, footy experts identified Smith as the ‘must stop’ player in the Hawthorn side because he was not only winning a lot of the footy but hurting his opposition on the scoreboard.

After a solid start to the season, Smith hit a rich vein of form that began in Round 16, where he became not only a powerful line breaker with an elite engine but also a damaging goal kicking midfielder with the ability to break the game apart.

He achieved career best numbers for disposals, tackles and goals after the breakout performance against Port Adelaide, where he gathered 26 disposals, laid nine tackles, took eight marks and kicked three goals.

Following that outstanding performance, in which he was awarded three Brownlow votes, Smith averaged 21.36 touches, which was up from 18.7 in the first half of the season.

But while he was finally being recognised for his outstanding on-field performances, the 25 year old was interested only one thing. Team success.

“It’s always nice to get individual recognition but I enjoyed the team a lot more than the little bit of individual recognition,” he told hawthornfc.com.au

“I want to play well personally but ultimately I don’t give a stuff about that, I just want to have team success.

“Footy has always been to me, about playing finals and winning finals so that’s what I’m all about.”

Rather than accepting the accolades with the risk of becoming complacent, he instead views himself as part of a machine, something much bigger than him.

For Smith, like everyone at Hawthorn, it’s about the team and not the individual.

“I feel like everyone at the Club is pulling their weight and that means everyone else’s job is a lot easier,” he said.

“It’s been great to see over the last few months guys like Ben Stratton, Jack Gunston, Luke Breust and guys like that starting to get the recognition as well because they’re very strong contributors to the team.

“I think everyone is really stepping up and playing their role, which is making it a lot easier for everyone else.”

Heading into his fourth season with the Hawks having just achieved a premiership, the wingman is hoping to achieve consistency in the performances that earned him the recognition last season.

To do that will require him to keep busy off the field to keep his mind from consuming itself with football but he’s keeping the specifics close to his chest.

“I’ve just got to put consistent seasons together – having consistently good games,” he said

“It’s obviously got a lot to do with your mindset and your mental strength and ability.

“I’m not going to give away my secrets but there are a lot of outside sources that can affect your consistency - it’s about being able to control what you can control.”