Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith

[Happy Days]

Love Bailey and his weird mouthguard, but one criticism - who on earth taught him how to handball? Could not look less organic, I've seen a more convincing technique on Rob Lowe.

[Go_Dogs]

Absolute steal of the draft. A few clubs will regret passing on him.

[bornadog]

[AshMac]

He’s a beast. Loved watching 2 cats players unable to drag him to ground in a tackle. Absolutely loved him lashing out at selwood after his goal. He is the perfect blend of raw talent, work ethic and aggression.

[bulldogtragic]

FMD. Built stronger than I've seen a kid, and explosive in speed and does this in his first 15 games straight. If the draft was re-held today I wonder where he'd be taken?

As I said, FMD:

Ranked 1st among rising stars in Total Centre Clearances
Ranked 1st among rising stars in Total Tackles
Ranked 2nd among rising stars in Total Stoppage Clearances
Ranked 2nd among rising stars in Total Clearances
Ranked 2nd among rising stars in Total Contested Possessions
Ranked 2nd among rising stars in Total Handballs
Ranked 3rd among rising stars in Total Uncontested Possessions
Ranked 3rd among rising stars in Total Disposals
Ranked 3rd among rising stars in Total Score Involvements
Ranked 3rd among rising stars in Total Supercoach Score
Ranked 3rd among rising stars in Total Effective Disposals
Ranked 5th among rising stars in Total AFL Fantasy Score
Ranked 6th among rising stars in Total Tackles Inside 50
Ranked 7th among rising stars in Total Metres Gained
Ranked 8th among rising stars in Total Time On Ground %
Ranked 9th among rising stars in Total Inside 50s
Ranked 9th among rising stars in Total Kicks

[Testekill]

In any other year he'd be a shoe-in for Rising Star. Sadly Walsh already got the hype treatment from the start (and he has been great) and Stack has the feel-good story along with the performances.

[azabob]

He’s a beast. Loved watching 2 cats players unable to drag him to ground in a tackle. Absolutely loved him lashing out at selwood after his goal. He is the perfect blend of raw talent, work ethic and aggression.

What was even better was Selwood and Smith were opposed to each other in that passage of play when it was kicked inside 50.. Selwood went ball watching whilst Smith went goal kicking...

[bornadog]

In any other year he'd be a shoe-in for Rising Star. Sadly Walsh already got the hype treatment from the start (and he has been great) and Stack has the feel-good story along with the performances.

Bont should have won, Daniel should have won, and now Smith - do we care?, we know who has the best players

[Ozza]

Not sure there has been a first year player put forward such consistent output and handle such a load as Sam Walsh has. No dramas with Bailey running second to a player like Walsh. Both are going to be absolute stars.

[AshMac]

What was even better was Selwood and Smith were opposed to each other in that passage of play when it was kicked inside 50.. Selwood went ball watching whilst Smith went goal kicking...

That’s awesome!

[Grantysghost]

FMD. Built stronger than I've seen a kid, and explosive in speed and does this in his first 15 games straight. If the draft was re-held today I wonder where he'd be taken?

As I said, FMD:

Ranked 1st among rising stars in Total Centre Clearances
Ranked 1st among rising stars in Total Tackles
Ranked 2nd among rising stars in Total Stoppage Clearances
Ranked 2nd among rising stars in Total Clearances
Ranked 2nd among rising stars in Total Contested Possessions
Ranked 2nd among rising stars in Total Handballs
Ranked 3rd among rising stars in Total Uncontested Possessions
Ranked 3rd among rising stars in Total Disposals
Ranked 3rd among rising stars in Total Score Involvements
Ranked 3rd among rising stars in Total Supercoach Score
Ranked 3rd among rising stars in Total Effective Disposals
Ranked 5th among rising stars in Total AFL Fantasy Score
Ranked 6th among rising stars in Total Tackles Inside 50
Ranked 7th among rising stars in Total Metres Gained
Ranked 8th among rising stars in Total Time On Ground %
Ranked 9th among rising stars in Total Inside 50s
Ranked 9th among rising stars in Total Kicks

Wow that is awesome. Do you think if we didn't get bumped up a spot, (I think due to compo for Suns (Lynch)) that we would've went for someone different like a King as best available? I'm so glad we didn't. This kid is the complete package, and I have it on good information that loyalty is one of his virtues. We treat this kid right, we've got a 200+ game A grader on our hands.

[bulldogtragic]

Wow that is awesome. Do you think if we didn't get bumped up a spot, (I think due to compo for Suns (Lynch)) that we would've went for someone different like a King as best available? I'm so glad we didn't. This kid is the complete package, and I have it on good information that loyalty is one of his virtues. We treat this kid right, we've got a 200+ game A grader on our hands.

And Freo tanked at Geelong to leap frog us. We 'might' have taken Rankine or King. But things have worked out spectacularly for us. Short of a contract extension announcement, which is hopefully coming soon.

[Mofra]

Not sure there has been a first year player put forward such consistent output and handle such a load as Sam Walsh has. No dramas with Bailey running second to a player like Walsh. Both are going to be absolute stars.

I'd take Smith over Walsh, purely on hurt factor of possession.

We have enough accumulators. Walsh can turn the ball over.

[Ozza]

I'd take Smith over Walsh, purely on hurt factor of possession.

We have enough accumulators. Walsh can turn the ball over.

I'm very very happy with Smith and agree with you on the long term.
But based on first year alone, in the 'rising star' discussion - Walsh is undoubtedly the club house leader.

[Mofra]

I'm very very happy with Smith and agree with you on the long term.
But based on first year alone, in the 'rising star' discussion - Walsh is undoubtedly the club house leader.

He'll win it but Stack is line-ball IMO.

It's amazing to think if he was two weeks younger he would be in this years' draft and if he didn't have his archilles issues last year he may not have slid to us.