Bailey Smith not expected to return for possible Bulldogs finals charge

The Bulldogs look on the march towards September, but don’t count on Bailey Smith joining the charge, with the star likely to be kept on ice for the sake of his trade value.

Western Bulldogs’ jet ball-winner Bailey Smith is unlikely to make a return to playing this season even if the club makes a deep run into September.

The man who appears headed for a trade to Geelong at season’s end is almost eight months into his recovery from a heartbreaking ACL tear suffered in mid-December last year.

While Collingwood’s Dan McStay has made his comeback to AFL level off only one VFL game, Smith is not physically recovered enough to step back onto the field.

ACL victims are typically ready after nine months out of the game, but even if the Bulldogs continued their hot form in September, Smith is unlikely to be risked as he prepares to change clubs.

Smith would command a long and lucrative contract at Geelong and would help provide a quality injection into a midfield brigade which needs to be strengthened.

But the club looks unlikely to risk a key trade asset in the run home and instead bank on its current senior playmakers to lead its push into the eight and finals if they make it.

Smith won’t make a return this season. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

Instead, Smith, who went overseas on a short break last month, could set himself for a major training block in the off-season in preparation for a fresh start after six years at the kennel.

Smith, 24, would command a first-round draft pick from Geelong (currently pick No. 13) which the Bulldogs could then on-trade to West Coast if they are successful for Eagles’ defender Tom Barrass.

At his peak in the 2021 finals series when he kicked eight goals in three games Smith was considered one of the best game breaking midfielders in the competition.

Barrass, 28, is weighing up interest from Hawthorn and Western Bulldogs and would also net the Eagles a first-round pick to help accelerate the club’s rebuild under a new coach.

Ruckman Tim English is considering interest from West Coast but the Bulldogs have held firm on their contract offer and do not want to give up overs to keep him.

Best and fairest winner Caleb Daniel could also consider a move at season’s end following talks with coach Luke Beveridge about his prospects for next year.

The Bulldogs would be unlikely to keep Daniel, 28, and Jack Macrae next year if they remain locked in the VFL team on decent salaries.

There is interest from multiple clubs in Daniel who was All-Australian in 2020.

He is one of the most skilled players in the team however the Bulldogs have ramped up their leg speed for this season as the club attempts to crash into the eight.

The Dogs face their toughest test of the season against Sydney Swans at the SCG on Sunday.