Bailey Smith has been a revelation for Geelong since his transfer in the off season from the Western Bulldogs, where he was coming off a long-term injury and had evidently lost the faith of coach Luke Beveridge that he could cut it as an inside midfielder. At the Cats, where the list is ageing in many parts but committing to youth in others, he had much more scope to the pivot of the Pivotonians, repaying the faith of thousands of fantasy coaches with some stellar statistical returns. Tonight, the Cats rely on him more than ever against his old mob.
Bailey Smith has been a revelation for Geelong since his transfer in the off season from the Western Bulldogs, where he was coming off a long-term injury and had evidently lost the faith of coach Luke Beveridge that he could cut it as an inside midfielder. At the Cats, where the list is ageing in many parts but committing to youth in others, he had much more scope to the pivot of the Pivotonians, repaying the faith of thousands of fantasy coaches with some stellar statistical returns. Tonight, the Cats rely on him more than ever against his old mob.
Bailey Smith was one of two midfielder/forwards for the Bulldogs to earn that designation in fantasy competitions this week, after spending more than 35% of the first third of the year starting from a forward position even though he spends most of his time following the footy. It is possible to fill your fantasy forward line with six starting Bulldogs this year, plus one or two cash cow Doggies on the bench for good measure. Of course you wouldn't do that going into a bye period, but after the byes are over there will be plenty on tricoloured players in fantasy squads.
Bailey Smith is currently sitting on top of the fantasy averages for 2022, having missed round 2 with COVID exposure but a string of sensational scores either side. A preseason blip due to personal issues has not slowed him down at all. His breakout 2021 campaign culminated in a disappointing grand final and seemed to be concentrated mostly on his outside run, but he has blossomed now into a classic inside-outside beast, the pace of Patrick Dangerfield with similarly poor disposal skills at an efficiency struggling to reach 70%. A Dream Team god.
Bailey Smith has been the player of the finals series so far and should be a strong favourite to take out the Gary Ayres Medal, but it's a premiership medal that he and the Dogs are chasing today. His rich vein of form has been a catalyst for the team, as when he is up and about the Bullies' run-and-carry numbers shoot through the roof. You just can't buy that kind of inside-outside form, and plenty of fantasy coaches saw that potential this year and got on board. Perhaps he will be the next Dustin Martin, starting with a Norm Smith tonight.
Bailey Smith has had an up and down season for his many fantasy owners, saluting with a sex score in early going and supposedly benefiting from the absence of other Dogs stars like Dunkley and Treloar... yet his role has mostly stayed on a wing where he concentrates on quality run-and-carry over workhorse accumulation. His centre bounce attendances have waxed and waned at times, and it has become clear that he is not an Andrew Gaff style wingman who just keeps presenting but more of a burst player. This makes him suboptimal for fantasy usage in the long term.
Bailey bigger than Beatles
Replicating his 2018 Championships form, Bailey Smith was second amongst draftees for disposals behind Sam Walsh but first for tackles with four per game. He found no trouble slotting in the Dogs' midfield rotations either, finishing fourth at the club for total tackles and contested possessions, and fifth for clearances with five fantasy scores over 90. Smith didn't miss a beat in his first season which puts him ahead of a host of fringe players at the midfield selection table. The Bulldogs searched more for options at either end in the off season, meaning Smith's position remains intact and it will take a run of poor form to see him relegated. Don't be afraid to take him with a late-round pick as bench cover.
Bailey Smith was selected in a lot of fantasy sides in salary cap competitions at the start of the year with a lot of upside built into his price due to a shift from forward line to midfield after round 14 last year. Like most of the Bulldog midfield, however, the sword of Damocles hangs over his head every week depending on where Luke Beveridge wants to play him, and he has been splitting time evenly between attack and the centre in recent times leading to some underwhelming scores. Last week brought pure midfield and a huge score... can he back it up?
Ankle dogs young pup
Renowned for his ball winning, Bailey Smith comes prepared to stamp his quality on the competition with a capacity to also play as a half back, featuring in that latter role as a bottom-ager during the Championships. He received the Vic Metro MVP award at the Championships, winning the second most disposals of any player after Sam Walsh. Smith has struggled with an Achilles issue since arriving at the club and has been managed as a result. The injury has been a persistent issue with the Bulldog unable to feature in any junior competition following the Championships, though he has participated in some of the preseason. As a first-year proposition, Smith may be one worth keeping an eye on for the future rather than the present.
