Bailey Smith an ‘80 per cent chance’ to leave for AFL rival

One of the most recognisable figures in the AFL, Western Bulldogs midfielder Bailey Smith, is reportedly an “80 per cent” chance of leaving at the end of the 2024 season. Smith has struggled for game time in 2022, with Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore, Adam Treloar and Jack Macrae all preferred over him.

The 22-year-old's contract will be up at the end of 2024 and the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph says "the chances of him moving on seem to be about 80 per cent". Smith has been linked to Hawthorn, Geelong, Essendon and premiers Collingwood as whispers of him being unsettled grow louder.

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Smith has played down the suggestion a more is imminent, saying he is “very committed” to the Bulldogs for next season. “I just want to keep fuelling the fire there. I just want to go all the way, so the red, white and blue is the best place to do it,” Smith told 7News.

Ralph believes Smith's future at the Bulldogs relies on him improving in 2024. "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," Ralph said. “Then he can either stay on a significant deal or explore the market at the end of 2024."

Speaking on the Tradies Podcast, AFL journalists Mitch Cleary and Sam McClure said they believe Collingwood and Essendon lead the way for Smith's signature but ultimately Geelong would be the right choice. “Geelong would be the most obvious fit. Their midfield with (Patrick) Dangerfield, (Cam) Guthrie and their age demographic," Cleary said.

Bailey Smith "required" at Bulldogs

Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains has played down rumours that Smith could be sniffing around elsewhere, telling Caroline Wilson of Footy Classified last month that he is a "required player". “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," Wilson said.

While AFL great Kane Cornes believes Smith would fit in well at Geelong. “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).”

Kane Cornes slams Demons caption Max Gawn

The former Port Adelaide player recently called out Max Gawn for defending the Demons club culture amid a number of dramas involving Clayton Oliver and Joel Smith. Oliver has been at the centre of headlines for Melbourne in the last few weeks and Gawn and his wife have taken him into their home as he looks to build for the 2024 season in the off-season.

“Max Gawn’s sitting here telling us the culture’s good and Simon Goodwin is doing the same," Cornes said. "I think they need to be a bit more honest about where their football club is at. This isn’t an isolated event and it’s certainly, I think, incredibly serious...This doesn’t happen, Max, at every other club.”

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