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Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith
Bulldogs to hold firm on demands for Bailey Smith
The Western Bulldogs will demand more than Geelong?s first-round draft pick before they agree to trade uncontracted midfielder Bailey Smith as they brace for an extended negotiation during trade period.
Geelong?s first-round pick is now pick 17 after band one compensation was awarded to St Kilda for losing free agent Josh Battle to Hawthorn and the Giants for losing Harry Perryman to Collingwood.
It will drift out further to pick 20 or 21 on draft night in November, depending on when bids arrive for opposition players with connections to specific clubs through the AFL?s priority access draft rules.
Lions father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft, the Suns? academy graduate Leo Lombard and Essendon?s Next Generation Academy product Isaac Kako are all certain to attract bids before Geelong?s first pick, while the Lions? academy graduate Sam Marshall may also attract a bid.
Although the Bulldogs accept they don?t have access to those four players, a club source who wished to remain anonymous ahead of trade discussions said that having access to the 20th best talent in this year?s national draft was not adequate compensation for Smith, who played 103 games for the Bulldogs after they used pick seven in the 2018 national draft to select him.
The 23-year-old Smith ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in December, which forced him to miss this season as he recovered from the knee reconstruction. He had not finished in the top 10 of the club?s best and fairest in two seasons before then.
He has acknowledged battling mental health issues in the football fishbowl that is Melbourne and the Cats are entitled to argue there is some risk attached to offering him a long-term deal given he has not been at his best since his outstanding 2021 finals series and his suspension midway through 2022, when he was charged with conduct unbecoming as photographs and videos emerged of him taking an illicit drug.
However, the Cats have also been in Smith?s ear to join the club as the exciting playmaker?s form dropped off. The flamboyant Bulldog has been an ambassador for the Geelong-based fashion retailer Cotton On for several seasons.
He did not attend the Bulldogs? best and fairest last Wednesday and was seen watching the preliminary final with Cats supporters.
Geelong have driven a harder bargain at the trade table in recent seasons and the Bulldogs? negotiating power is limited with Smith out of contract.
The Dogs could contemplate forcing him to the pre-season draft, but that would seem unlikely as they would receive nothing for him, although the Cats would not want that option raised either.
Geelong received picks 25, 76 and 94 when they traded uncontracted tall Esava Ratugolea last year and have picks 17, 38, 56, 74 and 92 plus future picks in hand as they enter this year?s trade period.
Bulldogs to hold firm on demands for Bailey Smith
The Western Bulldogs will demand more than Geelong?s first-round draft pick before they agree to trade uncontracted midfielder Bailey Smith as they brace for an extended negotiation during trade period.
Geelong?s first-round pick is now pick 17 after band one compensation was awarded to St Kilda for losing free agent Josh Battle to Hawthorn and the Giants for losing Harry Perryman to Collingwood.
It will drift out further to pick 20 or 21 on draft night in November, depending on when bids arrive for opposition players with connections to specific clubs through the AFL?s priority access draft rules.
Lions father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft, the Suns? academy graduate Leo Lombard and Essendon?s Next Generation Academy product Isaac Kako are all certain to attract bids before Geelong?s first pick, while the Lions? academy graduate Sam Marshall may also attract a bid.
Although the Bulldogs accept they don?t have access to those four players, a club source who wished to remain anonymous ahead of trade discussions said that having access to the 20th best talent in this year?s national draft was not adequate compensation for Smith, who played 103 games for the Bulldogs after they used pick seven in the 2018 national draft to select him.
The 23-year-old Smith ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in December, which forced him to miss this season as he recovered from the knee reconstruction. He had not finished in the top 10 of the club?s best and fairest in two seasons before then.
He has acknowledged battling mental health issues in the football fishbowl that is Melbourne and the Cats are entitled to argue there is some risk attached to offering him a long-term deal given he has not been at his best since his outstanding 2021 finals series and his suspension midway through 2022, when he was charged with conduct unbecoming as photographs and videos emerged of him taking an illicit drug.
However, the Cats have also been in Smith?s ear to join the club as the exciting playmaker?s form dropped off. The flamboyant Bulldog has been an ambassador for the Geelong-based fashion retailer Cotton On for several seasons.
He did not attend the Bulldogs? best and fairest last Wednesday and was seen watching the preliminary final with Cats supporters.
Geelong have driven a harder bargain at the trade table in recent seasons and the Bulldogs? negotiating power is limited with Smith out of contract.
The Dogs could contemplate forcing him to the pre-season draft, but that would seem unlikely as they would receive nothing for him, although the Cats would not want that option raised either.
Geelong received picks 25, 76 and 94 when they traded uncontracted tall Esava Ratugolea last year and have picks 17, 38, 56, 74 and 92 plus future picks in hand as they enter this year?s trade period.
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