Bailey Smith misses Tuesday training ahead of showdown with former side Western Bulldogs

All eyes at GMHBA Stadium were looking for one man on Tuesday. But Bailey Smith was nowhere to be seen two days out from a clash with the Bulldogs.

Controversy always seems to follow Cats playmaker Bailey Smith and Tuesday’s training session was no different.

While the rest of the Geelong players trained outside, Smith was nowhere to be seen.

Instead, he completed an indoor session away from prying eyes and TV cameras ahead of the spicy face-off against Smith’s former side the Western Bulldogs.

In news that will delight nervous television executives, the Cats have assured this masthead that Smith was just being managed and will play.

Smith faces his former side on Thursday night. Picture: Michael Klein

And we know we can always trust the Geelong injury report.

Smith’s Tuesday training absence certainly raised some eyebrows at his old home at the Kennel with some suggesting Smith was once again playing to the theatre of the occasion.

Smith, 24, is set to take on his former side the Dogs at GMHBA Stadium on Thursday night, having sparked the rivalry into action with a cheeky jibe about the Dogs’ second home in Ballarat a fortnight ago.

It was said to have riled some at the Dogs, with no love said to be lost between the team and their former star, who moved to the Cats at the end of last season and has placed himself firmly into Brownlow medal calculations with a blistering start to this season.

The midfielder — midway through a five-day break after Saturday’s win over Port Adelaide and travel — wasn’t sighted on the field at GMHBA Stadium on Tuesday with the club saying he had taken part in an indoors session as the grudge match looms.

Either way, whatever Smith does, the spotlight and drama follows.

Teammate Mitch Duncan — who will play his 300th game on Thursday night — said this week that Smith was more than “up for” the clash after declaring “you don’t get that in Ballarat” after a close Cats win at a pumping MCG.

“He probably still deep down has a little bit of love for the footy club - it gave him his opportunity and he played some good footy there as well,” Duncan said.

“I’m sure there’s some respect there. He’s probably done them a favour by saying that, too, getting the (Ballarat) game moved to Marvel later in the year, so he’s helped the Doggies out on the bottom line.

“He’ll be up for the fight, I’m sure. We’ll look after him and I think it’ll all be fine, to be honest.

“He’s in great form, which is all we care about.”

The clash is close to selling out, with only a small number of reserved seats still available to purchase.

Originally published as Bailey Smith misses Tuesday training ahead of showdown with former side Western Bulldogs