Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith

[bulldogtragic]

"The Dogs held a similar line on Josh Dunkley at the end of 2021 and refused to trade the then-contracted midfielder despite his desire to move to Essendon." - Cleary

How can you trust anything these journos say when they get basic facts wrong? Seriously. We are not talking about serious people here.

Or it’s a typo.

[angelopetraglia]

Or it?s a typo.

How is it a typo?

"Dunkley got his wish to leave the club 12 months later upon falling out of contract, landing at Brisbane." - Cleary.

Please. It is incompetance. You get basic facts wrong, yet you want us to believe your "stories" from "sources".

Not serious people.

[bulldogtragic]

How is it a typo?

"Dunkley got his wish to leave the club 12 months later upon falling out of contract, landing at Brisbane." - Cleary.

Please. It is incompetance.

If he’s out by a year, they doesn’t invalidate the rest as proof absolute. Whatever happens, there’s a lot of smoke right now.

[angelopetraglia]

If he’s out by a year, they doesn’t invalidate the rest as proof absolute. Whatever happens, there’s a lot of smoke right now.

I'm not disputing there is smoke. But how can a professional football journalist get something like that wrong? It is a big difference. He played two years with us after requesting the trade including the 2021 Grand Final.

All it takes is a Google search. He would have also covered it and lived it. So for him to get it so wrong is mind boggling.

Serious people, doing serious things don't make mistakes like that. Yet we hang off every word they say (the fooball loving public). Probably says more about us than them to be honest.

[Grantysghost]

I'm not disputing there is smoke. But how can a professional football journalist get something like that wrong? It is a big difference. He played two years with us after requesting the trade including the 2021 Grand Final.

All it takes is a Google search. He would have also covered it and lived it. So for him to get it so wrong is mind boggling.

Serious people, doing serious things don't make mistakes like that. Yet we hang off every word they say (the fooball loving public). Probably says more about us than them to be honest.

They send the copy overseas. Stuff up from them id guess.

[Hotdog60]

If the hawks are real keen is there a player around the same age we would want without being too ridiculous plus a first round pick.

[bulldogtragic]

If the hawks are real keen is there a player around the same age we would want without being too ridiculous plus a first round pick.

Grainger-Barass was a recent high pick and has struggled for games. I think someone mentioned his name the other week.

[Hotdog60]

It wouldn't bother me if Smith went I kinda worry about his head space in the AFL environment.

[angelopetraglia]

Jon Ralph
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...989a330f9391ba

On Monday reports emerged Hawthorn would be a potential suitor, while Geelong has interest in securing him to bolster their midfield.

But the Dogs position is clear — under no circumstances would they trade Smith even if he made clear he was keen for a fresh start.

The Dogs believe he is part of their long-term future, is in a position they are keen to bolster in coming years and has rarely or ever fallen out of selection favour.

While it is no secret Smith would like to play more minutes as a pure midfielder or even centre-square mid, he has often been played at half forward this year.

But the Dogs believe it is the same position where he displayed such slashing form in the 2021 finals series, with the Dogs pushing a high half forward like Smith up to the stoppages to play as an extra midfielder.

Smith is also aware he will need to have the pre-season of his life to force his way into the midfield while also focusing on his defensive run and kicking.

Western Bulldogs list boss Sam Power has skilfully built the club’s list but with a reputation of standing his ground in negotiations with player managers.

He would not relent on trading Josh Dunkley three seasons ago unless the club secured two first-round picks from Essendon, with the deal eventually falling over.

Dunkley eventually departed last year for a suite of picks from Brisbane.

But if Smith does eventually want to leave Whitten Oval at the end of next year, doing so as an uncontracted player would give him a range of options not available as a contracted player.

With the trade period five weeks away the Dogs are keen to shut down speculation about Smith’s status instead of allowing it to simmer.

Smith has his exit interview on Tuesday at Whitten Oval with coach Luke Beveridge as the club digests a 12-11 season that saw them miss the finals.

The Dogs will start the draft order with two first-round picks — their own and the Brisbane Lions selection.

They would love to trade those selections for an early pick to take a young midfielder in another indication of their desire to bolster their midfield.

Athletic father-son forward Jordan Croft could secure a bid in the mid-teens given his talents, so the Dogs would ideally prefer to take a selection before they match that selection with points from later selections.

[bulldogsthru&thru]

I?d be thrilled. It?s the super fast track rebuild that dogs fans would love!

I love your trade ideas. What the club actually does is less thrilling. Wait for a future 1st from hawks with us giving a future 2nd back or some garbage like that. We'll top off a magnificent trade period by recruiting Henry and Tomlinson.

[angelopetraglia]

"Smith is also aware he will need to have the pre-season of his life to force his way into the midfield while also focusing on his defensive run and kicking."

There should be pressure to play in the key positions on the ground. Good. Do the work. Or you can leave.

[Grantysghost]

"Smith is also aware he will need to have the pre-season of his life to force his way into the midfield while also focusing on his defensive run and kicking."

There should be pressure to play in the key positions on the ground. Good. Do the work. Or you can leave.

That's never been in question with him.

[angelopetraglia]

"He would not relent on trading Josh Dunkley three seasons ago unless the club secured two first-round picks from Essendon, with the deal eventually falling over."

At least Ralph knows his football history.

[angelopetraglia]

That's never been in question with him.

He needs to get himself right. He took a break away from the club in the pre-season last year. He needs to be in a position to apply himself mentally and physcially to the task at hand. The club has backed him in 100% throughout the challenges he has had off field.

[azabob]

Grainger-Barass was a recent high pick and has struggled for games. I think someone mentioned his name the other week.

Massive massive pass on DGB.