Geelong claw back in as 'heavy favourites' to land out-of-contract Dog Bailey Smith
Updated . First published at
Out-of-contract Western Bulldogs midfielder Bailey Smith is likely to land at Geelong in 2025, despite the Cats' general manager of footy, Andrew Mackie, playing down talks.
Smith tore his ACL in the pre season, ruling him out of the 2024 season at Whitten Oval.
He was sent away on a trip to Europe earlier in the year, but is now back home with trade conversations well underway, reportedly between the Cats and Hawks.
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Leading the pack to land the 23-year-old midfielder is Geelong, with Mackie remaining coy on where the club sits.
"Nah (we haven't offered Smith a contract). Like I said, we don't go into any details around opposition players," Mackie told 3AW Radio.
Bailey Smith has now been linked to the Pies, Hawks and Cats. Getty
"We understand interest, Bailey is out of contract."
But Mackie did admit that clubs would be "naïve" not to begin talking to players of interest well before the season ends and trade period begins.
"There's no real rules. The window is obviously post season, October, where you get to move players in and out of your list," he said.
"You're naïve to think that you get to a point at the start of October and it's like, 'we've got to push the button on a few things'."
Andrew Mackie and Cats senior coach Chris Scott. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Now Lloyd has declared the Cats will almost certainly land Smith.
"You can tell that they're (Geelong) in it up to their eyeballs. It's just a matter if there's another club in it," he said on Nine's Footy Classified on Monday night.
"He (Mackie) didn't want to say anything."
"Geelong, heavy, heavy favourites," The Age's Sam McClure added.
In December last year, Smith expressed his desire to have an even bigger impact once he returns from his knee injury.
"I'm really motivated to come back bigger and better," he told 9News Melbourne.
"I know everyone says it (after an ACL injury) but I think all my actions will do the talking when I get back."
