Death by a thousand cuts: The end of Bailey Smith the Bulldog

There wasn’t one standout moment that ended Bailey Smith’s time at the Bulldogs, it was death by a thousand cuts. Now he’s almost the pantomime villain in a battle between Cats and Dogs.

As one Western Bulldogs figure put it this week, “there wasn’t necessarily one huge moment” where it all fell apart between Bailey Smith and the Dogs.

But when Smith left early during the Bulldogs’ camp in Mooloolaba in January last year, some at the club considered it to be the beginning of the end.

Smith had just done his ACL the month prior and the prospect he had played his last game for the Dogs was starting to become a reality.

If anything, the final 12 months of Smith’s life as a Dog was to some reminiscent of Taylor Swift, where saying goodbye was death by a thousand cuts.

Smith missed the entire 2024 season with a knee injury. Picture: David Crosling

Little moments here, distraction in meetings there, with his ACL rehabilitation and all the “trauma” that came with it before an eventual trade to Geelong the ending blow.

Now all eyes turn to Round 11 in the wake of Smith’s theatrical and comical gibe that he would not be getting that atmosphere in “Ballarat” during the post-script of last Saturday night’s Cats victory.

But not everyone saw it that way. Especially many at the Dogs.

Last Thursday night, a swag of Bulldogs including Marcus Bontempelli and Tom Liberatore were in the North Melbourne rooms in celebration of former teammate Caleb Daniel’s 200th game, with the latter even presenting his mate’s guernsey for the occasion with kind words.

By contrast, some 48 hours later, Smith was delivering wisecracks at his old team on national television.

For many Dogs players, the anticipation for the Round 11 meeting was built far before he let his “no filter” approach out on Fox Footy.

There was no harm intended, but Bulldogs players – some of whom are champing at the bit to face their former teammate for the first time - and fans could be forgiven for wanting the game brought forward to this Thursday, such is the thirst for the bright spotlights the face-off would have already brought but that will no doubt now be further intensified in the wake of Smith’s cheeky post-match jibe.

Tom Liberatore in the Kangaroos’ rooms before Caleb Daniels 200th game. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Talk to those at the Bulldogs and there’s a clear edge.

Talk to those at Geelong and close to Smith, and it’s nothing but love for his former team, as he deeply expressed at the time of his move some six months ago.

Saturday night’s comment wasn’t seen as offensive by many at the Dogs, but it’s safe to say it touched a nerve.

Distasteful, lacking respect and salt in wounds that had almost closed were a few ways that several at the club put it when contacted for their take this week.

Smith was glowing of the Dogs on his departure, and those close to him say his affection remains deep, but his comment that he had “outgrown” Whitten Oval is said to have rankled a few at the Kennel.

“He loves the attention,” former teammate Sam Darcy said in a TV spot on Monday.

“He loves the theatre.”

And Smith is proving the ultimate pantomime villain – the stage’s triple-threat who can prod, post about it and, crucially, play some serious football.

Geelong is happy to embrace the character and all that Smith brings to the Surf Coast, having moved down at the end of last season.

Out of the spotlight in one sense, maybe, but firmly in it in another.

Coach Chris Scott has said he wouldn’t want to be coaching a whole team of Bailey Smiths, but the sentiment is strong at the Cats that individual personalities are embraced and he will remain no different.

Smith, 24, is considered cheeky in nature and anything but aggressive towards his former side, though there’s been a suggestion that a few of his former midfield mates might not feel the same come Round 11.

They drafted him, developed him and supported him through his ACL tear, though they ultimately satisfied his trade request to Geelong.

His departure was the climax to a build-up of moments: Of being in meetings while rehabbing a knee – and sometimes not – of a flexible training arrangement that included a trip to Europe in winter last year and eventually, a fairly mutual break-up after simply falling out of love.

He’d been granted personal leave by the club in 2021, having earlier opened up on his mental health battle, later that year completing his training remotely as he navigated personal issues, and then the ACL rupture came at training in December of 2023.

It all, former coach Luke Beveridge revealed on Tuesday, may have simply been the perfect storm.

“I don’t really want to provide any commentary on (whether Smith checked out mentally last year,” he said.

Smith faces his former side in round 11. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“I think what happens with any player – and Libba’s (Tom Liberatore) probably one to talk about that with his two knee reconstructions – is that they go through the trauma and the hardship of the rehabilitation, it affects you emotionally, psychologically.

“And your physical presence and how you carry yourself over the recuperation period is a real challenge.

“So whether he was here or not, or any of the challenges, I just accept that everyone deals with it in different ways and that was Bailey’s. And ultimately, him moving to Geelong seems like it’s been a good move for him and a good move for Geelong, and we’re going OK, so no heartache.”

Saturday night’s Ballarat barb – in an on-ground interview minutes after the final siren in the Cats’ three-point win over Collingwood, was the result, some close to Smith say, of a lot of adrenaline and not much filter.

The Cats are relaxed about boundary riders making a beeline for Smith, no doubt anticipating a moment just like that one. He doesn’t love the idea of doing sit-down interviews, but it’s when the adrenaline is pumping that he is raw and real.

“It’s going to be interesting, if people keep grabbing him straight after a game,” Beveridge said.

Smith’s Ballarat barb has set the stage for a true blockbuster. Picture: Michael Klein

“I’m not sure whether Geelong are going to like that every week. But it’s just the way he rolls.

“There’s no real filter with Baz, so you come to accept that and I don’t think it’s going to change.

“I do (think it was cheeky rather than pointed), I think that’s just the way he is. He will tell you – it’s just the way I am. I don’t have a filter. He doesn’t try and hide from it, while those around him try and calm him down.”

He watched the comment live, and welcomed “interesting theatre”, but has parked it until Round 11 rolls around.

It could yet be revisited, of course.

Why the game was scheduled for GMHBA Stadium has many also wondering – wouldn’t a full house at Marvel Stadium in front of the Bulldogs faithful have been a real test of if the feeling in this one is real, rather than a majority crowd of Cats supporters who will no doubt be in full voice for their new golden boy.

Captain Marcus Bontempelli was ready on Sunday with his line to hit back at Smith, and just how much feeling the Dogs will have ready come Round 11 has a few weeks still to simmer.

The Bailey Smith Experience at Geelong’s Sphinx Hotel on Wednesday night – a paid pub appearance that includes an interview and audience Q&A - didn’t pass by unnoticed at Whitten Oval with many a raised eyebrow.

But as for what awaits in 16 days’ time, it depends on who you talk to.

“I don’t know (if the animosity from my players is real),” Beveridge said, smiling.

“I suppose we’ll find out in a couple of weeks, won’t we? Hopefully we’ll be disciplined.”

Pack the popcorn just in case.

Originally published as Death by a thousand cuts: The end of Bailey Smith the Bulldog