Geelong track watch: Recruit Bailey Smith impresses on first day of full Cats pre-season as Patrick Dangerfield lauds young midfielder

Bailey Smith was there for his first full session and he certainly caught the eye. Plus, the young Cat to watch in 2025 and all the latest from the track. WATCH THE VIDEO

‘Baz’ is in town.

That’s what Cats captain Patrick Dangerfield remarked before he spoke to reporters down in Geelong following the club’s first full training of the pre-season.

High profile signing Bailey Smith had trained in at the club last week and joined first-to-five year players on their community camp, but Monday marked his first session with the entire group at Deakin University in Waurn Ponds.

Smith, 23, showed his trademark running power in one full ground drill when he delivered a kick, received the handball, spotted up another target and then motored down the field to provide an option.

Bailey Smith stood out at Cats training. Picture: Alison Wynd

Bailey Smith completes a running block. Picture: Alison Wynd

Reigning Carji Greeves medallist Max Holmes declared last week that Smith “works the house down” and that was evident to track watchers.

Dangerfield said they may have to hold the competitive midfielder back at times given his anterior cruciate ligament rupture last year, which proved to be the case on Monday.

The former Western Bulldog completed drills off to the side by himself with Cats staffers.

He would gather off the ground, break a tackle, burst away and then change direction before kicking on his right and left foot at high intensity.

Smith then caught the eye completing running around the ground as his teammates took part in match simulation drills.

Dangerfield fully expects him to play on the inside at the Cats but urged some caution, referencing his own progression as a player at the age of 23.

Bailey Smith chats with Patrick Dangerfield at training. Picture: Alison Wynd

“I think he’s that inside midfielder, has the ability to break lines. Averages a lot of inside 50s, I think that’ll really benefit the group we’ve got in and around the ball. That’s where I’d see him playing,” Dangerfield said.

“He looks pretty good, day one so I’m sure there was a few nerves there and it was great to see him in the Cats colours finally, but he has been around the traps now a bit.

“He is obviously coming back from an ACL so the challenge with him is pulling him back because he wants to get into it all. Obviously it is a new environment for him, but we’ll make sure we’re not cranking it up too high too early because it’s a long season.

“I think the expectations are very high because he came in as a young player and played really well, really early. People sometimes forget he is 23.

“If I look at my own self and you reflect and you’re like, ‘what was I like at the same age?’ The hardest thing was consistency, right? So that’s the part he’ll want to get right, that’s the part that Tanner Bruhn, Ollie Dempsey, the list is never ending in terms of players because that’s the key to good performance.

“The hiccup there is obviously doing an ACL, so he wasn’t able to do it last year. He just needs to take his time and that’s the hard part when you want to come in and play well and impress.”

Dangerfield said he didn’t play a part in luring Smith to the club but jokingly alluded to the infamous meeting between Geelong players and Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver.

“It was Rhys’ farm I think that got him over the line,” he quipped.

He also delivered a barb Tyson Stengle’s way, comparing the dangerous forward to Slim Shady because of his new blond haircut.

“Look, it’s not his best work. But Eminem is a wonderful artist and maybe Tyson is the same thing, just on the field,” Dangerfield said.

Tyson Stengle sports his new blonde locks. Picture: Alison Wynd

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Dangerfield is tipping to fringe Cat Mitch Knevitt to be alongside Smith in the engine room.

The 193cm midfielder played just four senior games last year but finished his year by amassing 38 disposals, 23 contested possessions, 13 clearances, 10 tackles and 224 SuperCoach points in Geelong VFL’s finals defeat to Southport.

Knevitt, 21, has noticeably added size to his frame over the off-season and Dangerfield put him on the radar as a player to watch out for in 2025.

“Mitch Knevitt is a player I think we will see a fair bit through there throughout the early parts of the season. He has a lot to offer in that area of the ground and there’s a few others as well,” Dangerfield said.

“I reckon he’s a really big, powerful player and I can see him playing some really good AFL footy.

“He looks in great nick so it is building that consistency throughout pre-season, backing yourself in that you’re good enough to play at the level.”

Delisted Carlton forward Jack Martin was Geelong’s other key acquisition along with Smith.

The 29-year-old completed the entire session in a good sign as he strives for a round one berth.

Dangerfield is hopeful that the injury-riddled talent can overcome his setbacks in a similar way to former Cat turned Lions goalsneak Lincoln McCarthy.

Mitch Knevitt at training last week. Picture: Brad Fleet

“I was really excited when that was a potential that he might come down the highway and he’s obviously had his injury history, but we’re confident we can help him get past some of those things,” Dangerfield said.

“And that’s not to say to do anything any better than anyone else, but sometimes a bit of a change up is a good thing. Linc McCarthy was in the same position where it was like we just couldn’t quite get him right and the change was good for him.”

A ‘recruit’ who Cats supporters are more accustomed to is Cam Guthrie.

The dual best and fairest winner has been restricted to just 10 AFL games since their 2022 premiership win after being plagued by toe and Achilles injuries.

Guthrie moved well during drills and then completed a running block with veterans Mitch Duncan and Mark Blicavs.

“Cam Guthrie will really be like a new recruit for us,” Dangerfield said.

“Obviously hampered with this time into a bit of Achilles stuff. He’ll be really important, he looks fit, he looks like he’s enjoying it a bit.

“It looks like he’s in great shape, he always prepares himself well, so it’s nice to see him smiling.”

Promising ruckman Toby Conway is one of the only Cats players on a modified program this pre-season after his season-ending foot stress fracture in July.

Key defender Sam De Koning was absent from the track at Deakin University but completed a session in at Kardinia Park.

Dangerfield shoots off a handball. Picture: Alison Wynd

WILL DANGER CAPTAIN AGAIN?

Dangerfield took over the top job from the AFL/VFL captaincy game’s record holder Joel Selwood.

But the 34-year-old said he is unsure whether he will lead the side for a third season in 2025, with the call in the coaches’ hands.

“We’ve got a decent enough runway into next season to sort of deal with that sort of stuff in January, February,” Dangerfield said.

“It’s around what’s the best thing for next season.

“The coaches will get together and they’ll sort of put forward their ideas on where that sits. But from a player’s perspective, I don’t think there’s any rush.

“We’ve still got an experienced group even though there’s a lot of young players, so it’ll be sort of January, February that I think we’ll get to that sort of stuff.”

Originally published as Geelong track watch: Recruit Bailey Smith impresses on first day of full Cats pre-season as Patrick Dangerfield lauds young midfielder