Veteran Sydney back Nick Smith has a short response to Alastair Clarkson's claim that the Swans' defence gets away with blue murder.
"He's got his opinions, we think we play within the rules," said Smith on Thursday.
"The umpires have seen it that way for a long time as well."
Hawthorn coach Clarkson riled the Swans with his comments after off-the-ball blocking free kicks in the Hawks' attacking 50 were paid in last Friday's match between the two teams.
Admitting the Swans were very sophisticated in the way they defended, Clarkson asserted "at different stages they're getting away with blue murder too."
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Smith is preparing to play his 200th game on Saturday at home against Fremantle.
Smith is another rookie list success story for the Swans, like fellow defender Heath Grundy, who has the locker next to him and will become the joint eighth-highest appearance maker for Sydney with 246 games
"It's been a great journey to share together, we were groomsmen at each other's wedding's, and we've formed a really strong bond and played a lot of footy together," Smith said.
.Despite never getting a Brownlow vote, Smith has earned a reputation for shutting down the best small forwards in the game.
One of those he rates the highest is Steve Johnson, now the Swans' attack coach.
""As much as I hate to say it now that he's here, but Stevie J (Johnson) was pretty tough. especially when Geelong were going well,'" Smith said.
"I think any forwards who were playing in better sides, it makes them a lot tougher to play on.
"(Eddie) Betts from Carlton to Adelaide, he was a really good player then, but everyone has seen him even improve his game.
"Obviously (Hawthorn's Cyril) Rioli, is a super player."
Smith is less fussed about his personal milestone than Sydney beating Fremantle.
They have won all four of their away games, but just one out of four at the SCG and have split wins and losses over their past four matches.
"We've had some good away wins, but we want to definitely capitalise on them by winning our home games as well." Smith said.
