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Bailey Smith says Geelong’s work-life balance combined with the people at the club were among the big things that convinced him to become a Cat.
Smith was traded from the Western Bulldogs to Geelong as part of a four-club deal in the dying minutes of the AFL’s trade period on Wednesday night.
Effectively, the Cats gave up picks 17 and 38 in exchange for Smith and pick 45.
The 23-year-old missed all of 2024 with an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, and told the ‘Dogs in September of his wish to be traded.
Smith posted on social media to take aim at the haters who are hoping he falls flat on his face but also pay tribute to his former club.
“Feels like yesterday I was drafted to the club of my dreams. It will forever be one of the best days of my life. I can’t thank the Western Bulldogs enough for being my rock and having my back through both the best and worst times,” Smith said.
“As we know people evolve and change and through my pursuit of searching for fulfilment/purpose, the decision to leave the Kennel and Melbourne in general, felt right.
“Regardless of what narrative you wish to believe or what your take on me as a person is, just know that the Bulldogs faithful will always have a place in my heart … from ‘Bevo’ (Luke Beveridge), ‘Bont’ (Marcus Bontempelli) and the boys to the loyal fans in the cheer squad rocking up week in week out.
“Thanks for taking me in as a fresh faced 18-year old and helping me along my journey. I’ll forever be grateful and will do you proud in this next chapter as you’ve played such a pivotal role in my footballing and personal life.
“I can say, without a doubt, it’s been the most difficult year I’ve experienced and one day I’ll have the courage to open up about it, but for now, I’m gonna put my head down and do what I do best — get to work.
“To those praying on my downfall, thank you.
“See you in 2025.”
Geelong, under premiership coach Chris Scott, have built a reputation of nurturing their players and encouraging them to embrace a more relaxed lifestyle outside of the hustle-and-bustle of Melbourne.
Smith said the Cats’ talent-laden list was exciting, but it was what the club has to offer outside of football that attracted him the most.
“The future’s exciting. It’s a successful club,” Smith said in a club interview on Thursday.
“And just the way they go about footy, but more importantly life and the balance they have and the people Geelong breeds – that’s what’s drawn me there the most.
“The footy stuff is always amazing, and I suppose it’s a lot of people’s No.1 thing.
“But (for me) it’s more the type of people within the four walls.
“It’s a privilege to be able to get to know them and hopefully I can add something to what is already an exciting list.”
Smith’s move to Geelong was by no means a guarantee, and he did his best to stay relaxed as the trade clock wound down.
“I went for a nice long walk. I was at the park when it went through … watching the sunset, which was nice,” he said.
“Left it to the last minute, but it was all good.”
Smith, who notched 103 games for the Bulldogs and played a key role in the club’s run to the 2021 grand final, plans to move to Geelong in November ahead of pre-season training.
The star midfielder ruptured his ACL at Bulldogs training last December, but says he’s now fully recovered.
“I’m fully fit now, so fully ready to go,” he said.
“I’m very excited for when day one of pre-season rolls around, I’m itching for it.”
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