Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith

[boydogs]

Jack Macrae not a similar style player but has dramatically improved what was a previous weakness and his passes into our forward line can sometimes be lethal now.

Good point, you used to be able to make breakfast while Macrae's kicks inside 50 were coming back down to earth

[ratsmac]

Bailey Smith seems to be stuck between being an inside 0layer and outside player. When he's inside he tries to take off and break tackles when he isn't positioned well enough or have a step to go through traffic and ends up trying to dispose of the ball with two players hanging off him. When he's outside and does get a break his skills aren't where they need to be to deliver the ball to our advantage. The positive thing is he's still pretty good at both at 20 years old and has an appetite to learn and he'll only get better.

[Testekill]

If there was ever a time for him to pull his finger out it'd be this game.

[bornadog]

[Ozza]

A shoutout to Bailey Smith's left foot.....drives us collectively crazy sometimes...but perhaps all the practice led to that goal!!

Gee he's a funny player. Texting with the old man during the night, very bi-polar Bazlenka commentary. "Baz FFS".....next one "Bazlenka!!".

[bornadog]

A shoutout to Bailey Smith's left foot.....drives us collectively crazy sometimes...but perhaps all the practice led to that goal!!

Gee he's a funny player. Texting with the old man during the night, very bi-polar Bazlenka commentary. "Baz FFS".....next one "Bazlenka!!".

He was very frustrating when he he just bangs it in the forward 50 straight to Brisbane with not a Dogs player in sight. He did that at least 2 or 3 times, yet he puts through two goals on the run, left and right foot. My wife said, why does he kick it so low when having a shot.

[Grantysghost]

Don't win that one without him all that extra running he does pays off - I'm all aboard the Bailey train. CHOO CHOO!

[Ozza]

Incredible that he hasn't missed a game since getting to the club. We probably forget how young he is given he has no played so many games at his age. Touch wood - but he's setting himself up for a big career games tally at this rate. 65 already and hasn't turned 21!

[Axe Man]

When Baz kicked THAT goal I screamed "He CAN kick" (after somewhat deriding his kicking ability earlier in the game).

My 5 year old son has picked up on it and keeps saying "He can kick". Lucky I didn't say anything more colourful.

[bulldogtragic]

I think Baz moves into ‘The Cody Role’ this week. Inside 50 pressure, speed to smoother and tackle, bring others in and kick goals. Bring the energy, fire the boys up.

I think he’s up for the challenge.

[jeemak]

I think Baz moves into ‘The Cody Role’ this week. Inside 50 pressure, speed to smoother and tackle, bring others in and kick goals. Bring the energy, fire the boys up.

I think he’s up for the challenge.

Who plays the match winning role he played on Saturday with him largely out of the play?

[bornadog]

When Baz kicked THAT goal I screamed "He CAN kick" (after somewhat deriding his kicking ability earlier in the game).

My 5 year old son has picked up on it and keeps saying "He can kick". Lucky I didn't say anything more colourful.

When he had a shot, the first thing I thought of was "agh a point, we are in front"

[Mantis]

Who plays the match winning role he played on Saturday with him largely out of the play?

Where did he do his best work? Was it delivering the ball I50 or was it the work he did I50?

[bulldogtragic]

Who plays the match winning role he played on Saturday with him largely out of the play?

Treloar. Bonts.

Some of his kicking I50 was poor. His work inside 50 on the other hand…

[SquirrelGrip]

Bazlenka's kicking is up for discussion - how can someone kick a goal like the "Ice in Veins" one on Saturday night, but then so frequently miss his targets into the forward 50. He seems to hit up the opposition's intercept marker so regularly.

For me, his issue isn't how straight he kicks, but more his depth. He frequently over- and under-kicks the ball. When going for goal on the run, it's not an issue as he kicks through it and distance doesn't matter.

As for his left foot kicking, I think he's done a huge amount of work this year and it's starting to come along nicely. A work in progress.