Bailey Smith reportedly ‘80 per cent chance’ to leave Bulldogs as AFL rivals circle
Western Bulldogs midfielder Bailey Smith is reportedly an “80 per cent” chance of leaving the Dogs at the end of next season.
The 22-year-old is one of the AFL’s most recognisable players but has struggled for form in recent times, finding himself left out of the Bulldogs’ stacked midfield.
With stars including Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore, Adam Treloar and Jack Macrae playing in the guts — Smith has been starved of opportunity in the midfield.
Smith’s contract expires at the end of 2024 and according to the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph: “The chances of him moving on seem to be about 80 per cent.
“So the onus is on Smith to work his butt off to improve his kicking and on-ball craft so (coach) Luke Beveridge simply has to give him more centre bounce opportunities.
“Then he can either stay on a significant deal or explore the market at the end of 2024.
This year his lack of impact meant Beveridge wasn’t proved wrong by pushing him to half forward.”
Smith has been linked with a move to Hawthorn and Geelong, but two other clubs including premiers Collingwood are believed to be “neck deep” in a pursuit of Smith.
Speaking on the Tradies Podcast, footy journalists Mitch Cleary and Sam McClure said the Magpies and Essendon are very keen on Smith.
Cleary: “Bailey Smith. Right here right now, Hawthorn or Geelong? Who is in front?”
McClure: “Right here, right now … I’d have Collingwood and Essendon neck deep in it as well.”
Cleary: “Why on earth do Essendon need another midfielder?”
McClure: “Because they don’t have many very good ones.”
Cleary: “(Darcy) Parish, (Zach) Merrett, (Elijah) Tsatas, (Archie) Perkins … (Ben) Hobbs.
McClure: “Right here, right now … I’d have Collingwood and Essendon neck deep in it as well.”
Cleary: “Why on earth do Essendon need another midfielder?”
“Geelong would be the most obvious fit. Their midfield with (Patrick) Dangerfield, (Cam) Guthrie and their age demographic.”
McClure: “Bailey makes sense at Geelong, I agree.
“Put it this way, I would be shocked if Bailey Smith has re-signed at the Western Bulldogs by July.
“If they (uncontracted players) don’t sign by then, you know things are moving.”
Cleary: “I agree with you on that.”
Essendon still have a war chest to spend on a marquee recruit like Smith after making plenty of moves in the Trade Period to bring in Ben McKay, Jade Gresham, Todd Goldstein and Xavier Duursma.
“(Bulldogs CEO) Ameet Bains has said that Bailey Smith is a required player,” Caroline Wilson said on Footy Classified in August.
“But there is huge frustration with him, he’s on a huge amount of money, he’s clearly a very high maintenance player, there’s several clubs looking at him, Collingwood and Hawthorn as well as Geelong.”
Kane Cornes said: “I think Geelong is the right home for him, they’ve taken a risk on players like Tyson Stengle with really good results, he’s a hard worker and I think he fits in perfectly (at Geelong).”
Smith has played 103 games for the Bulldogs since being taken with pick No. 7 in the 2018 AFL Draft.
