Why Bailey Smith should ditch the Western Bulldogs and become a Cat

We’ve all heard the rumours, but can the Cats pur-suade the most recognisable man in footy to pack up and head down the M1?

Will Bailey Smith head down the highway this summer? (Photo by Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Oh Bailey, it’s hard to be where you’re meant to be.

The rumour mill has been turning all year, and I fully understand your manager and teammates have said that you aren’t going anywhere.

But where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

I’m here to convince you to leave the Western Bulldogs and come to your spiritual home, Geelong, ahead of our 2024 premiership campaign.

Where else to begin than location?

Sure, Footscray’s getting nicer, but nothing beats our region.

Trade in the industrial areas for Eastern Beach, the swimming pools for a dip at Torquay, the Footscray Market for Market Square and stop going to your hairdresser who I’m certain is extorting you.

I get my hair done at a place on Pakington St that does a cracking job for $25 cash in hand.

Our town is built for a bloke like you.

Dogs star Bailey Smith is weighing up his options for 2024. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

Now, I’m fully aware that you’re not from Geelong.

It’s understood that you were even a Hawks fan growing up.

But as the face of one of the town’s biggest brands, I’m certain you feel a connection to our area.

Picture your off days!

You can get up and hit the beach, grab a coffee before cruising into Cotton On HQ in North Geelong for work and a quick gym session.

You’d have plenty of time to get stuck into the brilliant stuff you’ve been doing at Cotton On too.

Sam McLure, a football journalist, recently said on his podcast he believed there were uni students that have more contact hours than Geelong players.

The lifestyle down here is unmatched.

Get out of the Melbourne fishbowl.

I’m sure your 338k Instagram following wouldn’t mind. They’d love the influx of mid week eight-pack ab shots on the Surf Coast.

Bailey Smith is one of the faces of Geelong based Cotton On. Picture: Supplied

Now, I may not need to say much more, the sea-change speaks for itself, but we should talk footy.

Sure the Cats had a bit of a premiership hangover this year.

To to be fair the Dogs have been suffering from one since 2016, but Geelong’s decline can be put down to the Joel Selwood sized hole we had at our centre bounces.

I suspect that you would fill that hole quite nicely.

We all know Bevo hasn’t been playing you in the middle enough, which is baffling, it wasn’t long ago you were the side’s best midfielder throughout a final series.

Join the Cats and I’m certain Chris Scott will have your magnet in the middle, and imagine the midfield guys you’d be running around with!

You, Danger, Cam Guthrie, with exciting youngster Toby Conway giving you silver service, all on of a newly developed stadium at Kardinia Park.

On that potential midfield, if you have any influence over Sean Darcy’s decision making it could be even more interesting, or at least save me writing another one of these.

Look, Bailey, we need you, and you need us.

The biggest star at the best club in 2024.

Let’s make it happen, come down the highway this summer and save us from this painful finals drought.

Originally published as Why Bailey Smith should ditch the Western Bulldogs and become a Cat