By Peter Ryan
The Western Bulldogs will demand more than Geelong’s first-round draft pick before they agree to trade uncontracted midfielder Bailey Smith as they brace for an extended negotiation during trade period.
Geelong’s first-round pick is now pick 17 after band one compensation was awarded to St Kilda for losing free agent Josh Battle to Hawthorn and the Giants for losing Harry Perryman to Collingwood.
It will drift out further to pick 20 or 21 on draft night in November, depending on when bids arrive for opposition players with connections to specific clubs through the AFL’s priority access draft rules.
Wanting a new home: Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith is planning on joining GeelongCredit: AFL Photos
Lions father-son prospect Levi Ashcroft, the Suns’ academy graduate Leo Lombard and Essendon’s Next Generation Academy product Isaac Kako are all certain to attract bids before Geelong’s first pick, while the Lions’ academy graduate Sam Marshall may also attract a bid.
Although the Bulldogs accept they don’t have access to those four players, a club source who wished to remain anonymous ahead of trade discussions said that having access to the 20th best talent in this year’s national draft was not adequate compensation for Smith, who played 103 games for the Bulldogs after they used pick seven in the 2018 national draft to select him.
The 23-year-old Smith ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in December, which forced him to miss this season as he recovered from the knee reconstruction. He had not finished in the top 10 of the club’s best and fairest in two seasons before then.
Bailey Smith ruptured his ACLCredit: Getty Images
He has acknowledged battling mental health issues in the football fishbowl that is Melbourne and the Cats are entitled to argue there is some risk attached to offering him a long-term deal given he has not been at his best since his outstanding 2021 finals series and his suspension midway through 2022, when he was charged with conduct unbecoming as photographs and videos emerged of him taking an illicit drug.
However, the Cats have also been in Smith’s ear to join the club as the exciting playmaker’s form dropped off. The flamboyant Bulldog has been an ambassador for the Geelong-based fashion retailer Cotton On for several seasons.
He did not attend the Bulldogs’ best and fairest last Wednesday and was seen watching the preliminary final with Cats supporters.
Geelong have driven a harder bargain at the trade table in recent seasons and the Bulldogs’ negotiating power is limited with Smith out of contract.
Esava Ratugolea moved from Geelong to the Power during last year’s trade period.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
The Dogs could contemplate forcing him to the pre-season draft, but that would seem unlikely as they would receive nothing for him, although the Cats would not want that option raised either.
Geelong received picks 25, 76 and 94 when they traded uncontracted tall Esava Ratugolea last year and have picks 17, 38, 56, 74 and 92 plus future picks in hand as they enter this year’s trade period.
The Bulldogs are also expected to drive a hard bargain with St Kilda for premiership midfielder Jack Macrae.
A source with knowledge of the negotiations, who would not be named to speak freely, said the Western Bulldogs were prepared to hold Macrae to his contract if the right deal can’t be found.
Macrae was on the fringes of selection in 2024 and ended up starting as a sub in the elimination final after being overlooked for James Harmes, who was playing his first match since round 12.
Looking for change: Western Bulldogs premiership player Jack Macrae wants to head to St Kilda.Credit: Getty Images
Macrae is contracted until 2027. An industry source, who preferred to remain anonymous while negotiations were under way, confirmed that the Saints were not keen to hand over pick 46 for the 30-year-old, who has battled for a permanent position in the Bulldogs’ midfield in the past two seasons.
Both clubs are expected to use historic examples of trades of contracted veterans to argue their case when it comes to the trade.
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