Earlier this week, Smith was announced as the Tigers first major off-season recruit in a move that will add further depth to the club's premiership winning list.

Smith was a NEAFL and ACT representative player last season and in 2011 was named in the inaugural NEAFL Eastern Conference team of the year.

But despite his recent accumulation of representative honours, the 24-year-old said he had been in need of a change in scenery after failing to hit his straps in the Hawks' most recent campaign. 

 "2011 was probably my break out year, but to be honest, I don't think last season was a great one for me," Smith says. "A few people said maybe second year blues got to me but I'm not too sure what it was. 

"I put on too much weight at the gym and lost a bit of confidence in my speed and fitness and probably just wasn't really confident in my body.

"For me, I know I need to get my fitness back up to where it needs to be and if I can get that right, everything else should work itself out."

Smith played more than 80 first grade games with Tuggeranong but was lured to Queanbeyan in part by close friend and housemate, Tigers player Todd Dickinson. 

"I live with Dicko and when I was weighing up my options at the end of last season, he was getting in my ear about playing for the Tigers," he said. 

"I'm looking forward to a bit of a fresh start at a new club and hopefully I can get a bit more out of my footy at the Tigers."