AFL Draft: Bailey Smith, a relative of Essendon’s Zach Merrett, tipped to join Western Bulldogs
There’s been Rohan Smith, Clay Smith and Roarke Smith. Now Bailey Smith, a midfielder with good bloodlines who plays like a GWS superstar, is being tipped to join the Western Bulldogs.
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He spent years training alongside Richmond’s Jack Higgins, once had a kick with Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell and is in the same family tree as Essendon’s Zach Merrett.
Now Bailey Smith is determined to join that trio of stars and make his own name in the AFL as he eagerly awaits the national draft, for which he has been touted as a top-10 pick.
The hard-running midfielder from TAC Cup club Sandringham Dragons first met Higgins at a local park when he was in Year 7 and the pair went on to complete extra training sessions together across the following five years.
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“I learnt so much off him, just his attention to detail,” Smith said of Higgins.
“He was so generous in giving me a lot of training programs as well, anything from touch to fitness to gym. And to be around him and his dad, they are such good people and I enjoyed every minute of it.”
That was but the first step in getting serious about one day being drafted to the AFL.
At age 14, Smith set himself on a strict diet low in sugars and fats, with grilled chicken and rice salad becoming a staple meal.
Then, over Christmas holidays last year, he decided to take a break to Sorrento not to party or laze around but rather complete a “seven-day boot camp” with a friend, which saw him meet and have a kick with Mitchell on New Year’s Day.
Smith admits he, like Higgins, was once too obsessed with football but has since toned that down.
“I still work hard and do the same things but I try to find that balance now because it’s really important,” Smith said.
“It’s been tough but it ties into injuries as well. You don’t want to overdo it and get injured. So I’m just trying to get that balance right.”
A great-grandson of 1943 Richmond premiership player Leo Merrett, Smith wins his own football and averaged 24.8 disposals for Vic Metro during the AFL Under-18 National Championships.
He is also fiercely competitive, even with himself, and earlier this year managed to solve a Rubik’s cube in under 40 seconds.
“I got really competitive with myself to see how low I can get on the time,” Smith said.
Smith has attracted interest from the Western Bulldogs, who hold Pick 7, but the Hawks fan is focused on getting an Achillies injury right first, which meant he missed combine testing.
“I’m just focused on my rehab now for my injury,” he said.
BAILEY SMITH
Age: 17
Height 185cm
Weight: 82kg
Club: Sandringham Dragons
Position: Midfielder
Plays like: Josh Kelly (GWS)
* The NAB AFL National Draft will be held on Thursday November 22 and Friday November 23. Full coverage of picks as they drop, and expert analysis, @ superfooty.com.au.