What Bailey Smith’s injury means for the Bulldogs, Luke Beveridge and the man himself

It was meant to be his redemption year – instead Bailey Smith will miss next season entirely. So, what does the injury mean for his next contract? Scott Gullan takes a look from all angles.

Bailey Smith has always been a must watch for more reasons than most.

But the narrative surrounding the Bulldogs midfield star in 2024 was going to be more tantalising than his famous six-pack.

The ramifications of his knee buckling at training on Wednesday aren’t just widespread, that’s too much of an understatement.

There is the impact on Smith, the impact on the Western Bulldogs and the impact on Luke Beveridge.

For Smith this was his redemption year. After a brilliant start to his career – just watch the 2021 finals series for a refresher – he lost his way this season.

A change in role saw him asked to play more forward and away from being a pure midfielder which his incredible aerobic capacity and skill was suited to. It was for team balance but the experiment back-fired.

What now for Bailey Smith? Picture: Michael Klein

As his frustrations grew so did rumours of an issue with the coach.

By the end of a disappointing season for the Dogs - how they missed the finals after losing to West Coast at home in Round 23 is one of football’s great mysteries - there was talk of Smith seeking a trade.

That never happened but there was an underlying current that with Smith out of contract at the end of 2024, it was just being delayed by 12 months.

The early mail coming out of the Whitten Oval in October was the 23-year-old was a man on a mission determined to restore his reputation

Whether that was for one last big hurrah for the Dogs or to show his potential suitors that he was worth a mega-deal, we will never know now.

Smith reported for day one of pre-season in amazing shape, easily winning the time trial and marking it clear he meant business.

How he and Beveridge were going to gel was going to be one of the narratives of the summer and the start of the new season.

That’s something the coach was ready to handle comfortably but now life without Smith is going to be decidedly uncomfortable for the 2016 premiership coach.

There are many who say Beveridge is coaching for his life in 2024.

Luke Beveridge talks with Bailey Smith during a game in 2023. Picture: Michael Klein

A major review of the Bulldogs football operations is currently underway to ensure he gets every opportunity to succeed. Smith at his best makes that a lot easier.

With Josh Dunkley leaving last year, Jack Macrae dropping below his All Australian level and Smith off his tucker, too much was left to skipper Marcus Bontempelli and veteran Tom Liberatore.

While the Dogs suddenly have the best collection of talls in the game, it’s around the ball under All Australian ruckman Tim English where they have surprisingly become vulnerable.

So what does the injury do to Smith’s open market value?

There’s no escaping that it has an impact, maybe even scaring away suitors who were already weighing up the Smith package which does come with some baggage.

Sadly, in the immediate aftermath of the injury news breaking one of the first questions asked was: Do you think Smith has played his last game for the Bulldogs?

Hopefully that’s not the case and a smart move for all would be to re-sign him immediately, give him a big cuddle and put all possible resources behind getting him physically and mentally ready for 2025

Unfortunately, when it comes to Bailey Smith the script isn’t always followed.

Originally published as What Bailey Smith’s injury means for the Bulldogs, Luke Beveridge and the man himself