Bailey Smith was a no-show at Geelong’s main training session on Tuesday, just days out from their crunch clash against the Western Bulldogs, his former club, in what many are calling the match of the season.
The Cats have urged calm, suggesting Smith was training indoors due to the tight five-day turnaround. But with the club’s track record of pulling last-minute changes, it’s fuelled growing speculation around whether the midfielder will suit up against the Bulldogs on Thursday night at GMHBA Stadium.
Already without skipper Patrick Dangerfield and Jack Bowes, both sidelined by hamstring injuries, Geelong can scarcely afford to lose Smith, who has brought energy and run to their midfield.
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The potential return of defender Tom Stewart from a knee issue is a boost, but all eyes remain on Smith.
A grudge match in the making
The clash was always going to be juicy. The Bulldogs sit fifth, the Cats seventh, and Mitch Duncan will notch up his 300th game. But it was Smith’s post-match jab a fortnight ago that gave this one a bit of extra sting.
After the Cats edged out Collingwood in front of a massive MCG crowd, Smith couldn’t resist a cheeky swipe. “It’s beautiful… I’m not getting that in Ballarat,” he quipped on live TV — a clear dig at the Bulldogs’ sparse turnout in regional Victoria that same day.
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Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli quickly fired back, saying, “Nice to know we’re still on his mind.” Smith, true to form, responded with a fish emoji on social media.
It’s no secret that Smith’s final months at the Bulldogs were rocky.
A knee reconstruction kept him sidelined for all of last season, and he was eventually traded to Geelong, where he's hit the ground running.