AFL 2025: Bailey Smith to face his former side the Western Bulldogs as Tom Stewart, Rhys Stanley set to return
Bailey Smith trained away from the main group on Tuesday, and he dodged the cameras again at Geelong’s captain’s run. Chris Scott gave an update on his fitness and how he has handled the hype.
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Geelong coach Chris Scott has dispelled any doubts over Bailey Smith, saying he he will face his former side the Western Bulldogs on Thursday night and that he has been “energised” by the extra attention.
Smith appeared briefly at Geelong’s main session on Tuesday but trained indoors at GMHBA Stadium rather than with the main group.
Scott clarified it is common for Cats players to complete their own individual session.
“(It was) mentioned to me that there was some commentary around him not training. He trained, you just didn’t see it. And we had a pretty individual kind of program on that day, so he’s fine,” Scott said before their captain’s run.
“It’s more a function that we just have an individual program and the cameras see a portion of our training and generally it’s not the best bit — sorry,” Scott added with a smile.
However, the Smith again dodged the cameras at Geelong’s light captain’s run on Wednesday. The 24-year-old raised eyebrows when he walked off the ground and down the race a couple of minutes after media were permitted to enter.
The Cats assured this masthead that he completed a skills session on the ground before the cameras came out.
Scott said Tom Stewart (knee soreness), who has missed the past three games, and Rhys Stanley (hamstring) were “likely” to replace captain Patrick Dangerfield and utility Jack Bowes for their blockbuster clash at Kardinia Park.
Stewart moved well throughout the session with no strapping over his knee, while Stanley stood off to the side.
Scott said the Cats are weighing up another change with Ted Clohesy, who starred in the VFL, and potential debutant George Stevens set to be part of the squad.
“(Stewart and Stanley in) is likely, and there might be one other (change) as well. But we will need to get through today,” Scott said.
Mitch Duncan’s family and Geelong legend Tom Hawkins, a close friend of Duncan, sat in on the press conference ahead of his 300th game and Scott had them in stitches when asked about how Smith had handled the attention of the week.
“How’s he going with the attention? Fine,” Scott smirked. “He doesn’t have any problem with the attention at all. And I think when players play against their former club, there’s a bit of added spice to it.”
But Scott issued a warning to the Bulldogs that any sledges could be used as fuel by the running machine as he referenced Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar as an example.
“They can try (two work him over). I use this cricket analogy that in these sort of situations, there are some players that you sledge because it might affect them,” Scott said.
“It’s like, just be really careful, because some players, those sort of sledges can really steal them, and you can have a long, hard day.
“I’m not saying Bailey is that necessarily, but I’m pretty confident in the small amount of time I’ve spent with him, that the hype and the combativeness is something that energises him.
“I think he needs that, so it’s up to them - they know him better than I do to be frank.”
Scott feels there is “goodwill” between Smith and the Bulldogs and said Smith has spoken fondly about his former club.
“For some players who don’t like that kind of attention, it can be a challenge, but I think for others, it’s stimulating and Bailey’s certainly in that latter category,” Scott said.
“We’ve got no intention of deflating the hype, but my sense is that there’s a lot of goodwill from both sides.
“Obviously any kind of tension there will be magnified, but when I speak to Bailey, he’s got nothing but good things to say about the Bulldogs and his former teammates.”
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Originally published as AFL 2025: Bailey Smith to face his former side the Western Bulldogs as Tom Stewart, Rhys Stanley set to return
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