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BT COME BACK!
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Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith
Poor Laith would be well advised to keep his shirt on if a topless Baz is around.
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Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith
All youse picking on Laith would kill to be in the nick he's in (me too). It's not fair to compare him to a specimen.
Where's the pic of Buku and Cordy to really cause puzzlement?"It's over. It's all over."Comment
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Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith
Hanging around with Baz would turn anyone into a never nude
Our 1954 premiership players are our heroes, and it has to be said that Charlie was their hero.Comment
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Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith
Bulldogs star Bailey Smith opens up on his crazy rise in popularity
Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith has opened up about the spotlight, his mental health and the nude picture of him that was going viral on grand final day.
Smith, who is on the verge of becoming the AFL’s most followed player on social media, said he had even been offered $50,000 to sleep with someone.
Smith set the record straight on the picture by posting the original, which he said was taken off his Facebook account.
“There was a fake nude of me that got shared around Australia,’’ he told the Common Chaos podcast.
“This was like the day of the grand final, the biggest game of my life, and the boys showed me. They knew it was Photoshopped … it was weird. It got sent around to everyone while I was playing and then I addressed it after.
“I stopped looking at (my DMs) two weeks ago. I’m even getting these now, I don’t know how they got my number. Sends a screenshot of his bank account, $50,000 to sleep with this person. It doesn’t stop going. Then I’ve had the stock standard (offers).”
Smith, 20, is known as “Bazlenka” and has more than 334,000 followers on Instagram. Only Dustin Martin has more, with 338,000.
He is now in Queensland with new friends and podcast hosts Ashton Wood and Cartia Mallan but despite speculation, he says he is single.
Smith admits he has struggled with eating disorders, panic attacks and anxiety.
“I don’t know if it’s a good coping mechanism but I just don’t deal with it,’’ Smith said of the attention.
“I acknowledge it, I know it’s there, it is the elephant in my brain but I ignore it as much as I can. The things that ground me each day, I go get my coffee, going to the beach, my best friends, getting dinner. I focus on what I want to do each day and what I want to get out of myself.
“I don’t open up that much because I’m scared of being judged and it’s just something that’s got to do with me. Fear of just being taken advantage of, as well. You can’t just open up to anyone. So I don’t do that but it’s been so refreshing over the past couple of days just to talk to you guys and not feel alone.
“There are so many people around you and wanting this and that from you, it’s so easy to feel empty inside, as dark as that sounds.”
Smith, who has a unique look, with mullet and moustache and enviable physique, said football players often had a stigma attached to them.
“That whole jock and toxic masculinity thing, especially with football players the way they are perceived, the way they treat other people — even just women — they think they’re God’s gift etc.
“That’s why I’m glad you guys said it was refreshing to meet up because we are just normal and want to have a great conversation. We’re not into the whole scene that whatever we do it doesn’t define us, we just want to be normal and respectful. We really thrive off having a good conversation and a few drinks.”
Smith said he learnt to deal with his emotions at a young age.
“It’s such a big thing, I still feel vulnerable to this day talking about it. The more you do it feels so natural … it almost empowers you,’’ he said.
“I just love love.
“Just for my day-to-day and something that helps me when I’m having a panic attack or just having a down day: the sun will rise tomorrow. Understanding that whatever happens, the sun will rise. Life goes on. It’s not that important. You’re gonna die one day. It’s such a small, minuscule part of your life, just live it like it is.
“The thing that opened up so many doors for me is, I don’t know if it’s cliche, is actually working on myself and I started taking medication because that’s something I didn’t do for such a long time. (You think) I don’t want to be weak, I can do it myself, it’ll be so much rewarding if I just get through it.
“I bit the bullet and understood and accepted that I wasn’t right at the time. Opened up so many doors for me, in terms of school, my education went through the roof and then football, that’s been my dream since I was a kid. My work ethic, everything just tied together.
“That vulnerability opens up so many doors.
“Think I was 15. It’s pretty young but I started being really in tune with how I’m feeling and why am I feeling this way.
“I was lucky because my mum was good at helping me do that. In terms of wanting to be successful, it helps you with what you want to do.”Comment
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Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith
Far out. I seriously hope we have a strong support network around Bailey Smith.More of an In Bruges guy?Comment
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Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith
Sex deficit is now $50,200 compared to best in class..........
Seriously though, crazy stuff to be experiencing at his age and like Aza said, I really hope we've got a good network/ structure in place to help him manage his way through it.TF is this?.........Obviously you're not a golfer.Comment
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