Geelong list boss Andrew Mackie on Cats’ push for Bailey Smith and how they got it done on deadline day

Geelong’s attempts to lure Bailey Smith began well before this season. The Cats’ list boss Andrew Mackie sheds light on how it unfolded and the drama of deadline day.

See how the Cats landed Bailey Smith. Picture: Michael Klein

Bailey Smith became a Cat in the frantic final minutes of the AFL trade period, but the move was more than a year in the making.

To secure a player of Smith’s calibre entering his prime, you have to put in the work.

And Geeong led by football and list boss Andrew Mackie certainly did that.

As did the former Western Bulldog, who had plenty of time to weigh up his move while sidelined with a ruptured ACL.

The Cats noticed Smith had been spending time in the region — no surprise given his ambassador role with clothing brand Cotton On, which is based in Geelong.

“With these players you sort of track them throughout and we were aware he started to spend a bit more time down our way, so then you’re starting to look at little bits that might mean that someone would be open to a move down your way,” Mackie told this publication.

“So that was I suppose over 12 months ago, but then it sort of got real throughout the year. Bailey has had a lot of time given that he wasn’t playing, so he’s been able to think about what the next move for himself might look like.

“We’re happy that he thought that we would be a really good fit and hopefully we are, for us and him. Looking forward to him being himself and then the whole of Geelong and everyone getting behind him.”

Andrew Mackie, Geelong General Manager of Football speaks during the 2024 Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period at Marvel Stadium on October 07, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Having one of the best coaches in the competition – who has no interest in rebuilding – is certainly a handy recruiting tool.

Geelong coach Chris Scott told reporters earlier this year that he gets involved with potential trade targets depending on the situation.

Mackie said he plays a “big role” in the acquisition of players, but also allows the list management and recruiting team to do their jobs.

“Clearly when we’re about to talk to players or think that there’s someone we should talk to, he’s a big part of it,” Mackie said.

“We sit down and talk about a lot of things, including players that we want to bring in and our own players, so it’s an ongoing conversation.

“He plays a big role in it that, the players want to speak to the coach – ultimately, that’s who they’re playing for and will spend so much time with.

“So it is a big part of any player’s decision making. We’re lucky that we’ve got a coach that is so good with these guys – 18 to 36 year olds now – Chris is so progressive in his thoughts around what’s best for us and environment and people in general, so they’re really good discussions to be part of.”

Scott will also be central to the role the 23-year-old will play in Geelong’s side.

Bailey Smith in the hoops. Picture: Michael Klein

“I think Chris Scott and the coaches will work through that bit,” Mackie said.

“That’s often how Chris goes about it, a conversation with the player and together with the coaches, they work through it.”

Mackie is a big fan of his running power and his attacking threat in transition and feels he gives their midfield group flexibility with his inside-outside blend.

Off the field, Smith spoke on Thursday about the balance in the program being one of the main attractions of the Cats.

It is something Mackie in his overarching role as football boss works hard on, and it will be no different with Smith despite his well-documented mental health struggles.

“There is nothing to tackle, it’s what we do with every player,” Mackie said.

“We try and provide an environment that we try and get the best out of people. And at times it’s not always going to be smooth sailing, but willing to work with people about how we achieve what they want and what we want to do.”

DRAFT NIGHT DRAMA

Mackie was cool as a cucumber on deadline day, looking unfazed with his arms crossed during the tense last final hour of deadline day.

Cameras inside the Cats’ bunker on AFL website captured Mackie chatting to Smith’s experienced manager Paul Connors, who said on SEN radio that the trade period was “harder than I’ve ever experienced.”

But it was all healthy discussion as far as Mackie was concerned, stressing that it was never their intention to let Smith go through to the pre-season or national draft.

Mackie was cool, calm and collected at the crunch. Picture: Michael Klein

“We were aligned throughout the whole process on what we felt like was fair and needed to get the deal done and in the end, we wanted to do the deal,” Mackie said.

“We didn’t want to go through any other pathway to land him, so it was just about ‘alright, it’s time to get rolling’, and probably as much as anything making sure he was across the other deals going on so that we could just tie it all in together.”

While from the outside looking in it appeared the deal might not go through, Mackie was confident it would happen.

“The last probably 45 minutes it started to really come together,” Mackie said.

“There was a discussion probably an hour and 20 minutes before the deadline, just around the proposed revised deal. And we had a discussion about what it could look like and from there the Bulldogs had a bit going on, so we just understood that and we were happy to just let them do a couple of things that they wanted to do.”

The number of deals that happened in the dying minutes sparked debate about the trade and free agency period being reduced.

Clubs and their list management staff have plenty of time to get their ducks in a row across the year and in the period itself.

While understanding of the process, Mackie would be happy with a shorter amount of time to get deals done.

“Probably would have it a little bit less. I think teams have got a lot of time to get themselves sorted. You would like to think that they’re not changing strategy, so to speak, within that time,” Mackie said.

Originally published as Geelong list boss Andrew Mackie on Cats’ push for Bailey Smith and how they got it done on deadline day