AFL trade news: Bailey Smith officially requests trade away from Western Bulldogs

Bailey Smith wants the Bulldogs to trade him, and the Dogs will ask for a high price, but what can realistically get the deal done after an ACL tear? One club looms as the likely candidate.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 12: Bailey Smith of the Bulldogs gives the thumbs up during the 2024 AFL Round 05 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Essendon Bombers at Marvel Stadium on April 12, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

The Western Bulldogs will demand a sky-high price for departing star Bailey Smith given his status as a 23-year-old star midfielder about to enter the prime of his career.

Bulldogs midfielder Smith has officially asked out of the club without naming likely destination Geelong as his club of choice.

He told the club on Monday of his desire for a fresh start after spending the year recovering from an ACL tear, with his lack of midfield time in recent seasons only one of his reasons for moving on.

Geelong’s first-round pick will only be the starting point of any potential deal and their current draft pick.

With the Cats locked into a top-four finish, that pick cannot be lower than No.15.

And with father-son and NGA bids for players including Leo Lombard, Isaac Kako and Levi Ashcroft, that pick could easily end up in the early 20s.

Bailey Smith and Luke Beveridge. Photo by Michael Klein.

So the Dogs will want more than a single selection and might also be open minded about whether a player is involved in the deal.

Geelong has a full slate of picks available to use in a deal, having maintained all their picks in November’s draft.

The Dogs had offered Smith a two-year deal but the Cats offer is likely to be long-term.

Smith had averaged 20 games a season and hit the 100-game mark before his knee injury and had shown he was capable of withering football with his brilliant 2021 finals campaign.

It is why the Dogs will legitimely believe they must extract a fair price given he is likely to have an exceptional 10-year career at the Cats.

Despite his strong reputation, Smith has not made an All-Australian squad and finished seventh in the club best-and-fairest in his best year in 2021.

Contracted midfielders Caleb Daniel and Jackson Macrae also held their exit meetings on Monday and made no mention of whether they would attempt to find rival clubs.

But given the Dogs’ exit happened so quickly with their elimination final loss to the Hawks, they would need time to assess the trade landscape.

Rory Lobb is keen to remain at the club after his remarkable resurgence as a key defender.

Midfielder Riley Garcia has multiple clubs interested in him after he fell from favour after a strong start to the season.

Smith is expected to be on the move to Geelong. Photo by Michael Klein.

Hawthorn and Collingwood had been in the race for Smith early this year but have moved on to other priorities.

In a statement, the Bulldogs said that Smith was “yet to nominate a preferred club”.

The Hawks are now focusing on free agent Josh Battle and Eagle Tom Barrass, while the Pies do not have a first-round pick.

The Cats have been linked to the Dog for over 12 months, who would fill a need of adding Chris Scott’s midfield.

He has not played this season due to an ACL rupture in the summer months and is off contract, making a trade all-but inevitable.

“Given Bailey’s immense talent, age and proven ability to influence games, the club will work diligently to ensure it is fairly compensated throughout the process,” the club statement read.

Smith, 23, was banned for two matches in 2022 after a video emerged on social media of him holding a bag of white powder.

He is seen as an extremely diligent trainer but struggled to crack an inside midfield position in a stacked Dogs onball brigade.