GOLD Coast hard man Campbell Brown has urged lanky ruckman Zac Smith to be more aggressive in 2013 and lead the Suns from the centre circle.

Smith, 22, took the AFL by storm in 2011 with his rare combination of height, agility and athleticism, but injury and poor form resulted in a below average campaign last year.

However, with the addition of renowned aggressor Matthew Primus to the Suns' coaching staff, Smith hopes to become more of an enforcer.

Brown has made a career of roughing up opponents and said it was crucial the athletic ruckman added some steel for the Suns to succeed.

"He certainly needs to work on that aspect of his game. Ruck is super important," Brown said following Gold Coast training on Monday.

"I think Matty Primus is the best man to bring out that aggression because it all starts with the ruckman in the middle of the ground. I think if you're an aggressive ruckman in the air and on the ground it adds an enormous benefit to the side."

Brown said although it was hard to "manufacture" aggression, Gold Coast has taken steps during the pre-season to help the process.

"We're doing a lot of wrestling and boxing and grappling and there's no doubt some guys that aren't naturally aggressive, once they become a bit more comfortable with it, they can certainly benefit," he said.

"I think Zac's been going very well with that wrestling and grappling and is starting to feel more confident in his body."

The biggest influence on Smith over the pre-season has undoubtedly been Primus.

The former Port Adelaide captain and coach was known as one of the most confrontational ruckmen of his era during his 157-game playing career.

Smith said he had been an enormous influence in his first 10 weeks at the club.

"That's one of the things I need to work on, my aggression. As soon as I cross that white line, like Browny does, he becomes an animal, and I need a bit of that," Smith said.

"He'll (Primus) hopefully give me some of that.

"The first day he got here we had a big chat about what we wanted to get out of the pre-season.

"He'll hopefully help take me to that next level. We'll wait and see when we start playing but he's been really good."

Michael Whiting covers Gold Coast news for AFL.com.au. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_mikewhiting