Where Will Bailey Smith Play In 2025? | AFL 2024

after being taken with pick seven in the 2018 AFL superdraft it's been a wild ride for Bailey Smith a Bulldogs cult figure who claimed during his draft year that alcohol would be something that he would go nowhere near and then he kind of got himself into trouble with something let's just say was not alcohol he's a marketing icon basically of this Sport and that will only continue to grow but now it looks like he won't be at the Bulldogs in 2025 and there are some ual Landing spots for him that I want to talk about in this video as well as the odds of him staying at the Bulldogs what he'll add to each of these teams and where he is most likely to end up come the end of the trade period for the soon to be 24y old in round one 2025 so in the midst of a reasonably disappointing round 15 let's talk about biley Smith the big baz lanar rocking up to the Bulldogs was a big deal considering that Connor Rosie was already off the board at this point the king brothers were off the board at this point the Bulldogs took a chance on their outside midfielder who quickly became one of the better Wingers in the competition and then when he moved into the Midfield semi fulltime in his career career best year his numbers exploded and we'll take a look at all of those things in just a moment but the style of player that he is it's kind of understandable that the ACL Warriors are there considering how much he uses his Pace he wants to get meters gained and he is definitely a ball in momentum traveling forward kind of operator it makes a hell of a lot of sense that not only would he be in demand but there is some fan pismis about what he can bring moving forward but considering his age and the fact that players have recovered from acl's and still been very good footballers I feel like this can be put to rest a little bit it's not as if he is a decrepit footballer in the slightest it's not as if he is a bad player who's gone down he is going to be in demand and it probably could be two first round draft picks for him one maybe in the top 10 one not so when you draft a guy with pick seven who's been as good as he has been and is on the Move sure the ACL may have low his trade stance at this point and if he put up numbers that were pretty similar to his last three seasons you could definitely say two top 10 picks being the asking price as maybe as mad or as maybe even as ugly as this sounds his knee injury actually benefits the team that's picking him up in terms of what they are buying him for and how his knee recovers is obviously going to be integral to how he performs but considering that's pretty much the only unknown variable at this point let's talk about what we and he can control and that's what he's delivered so far so coming into the competition in 2019 he put up really good numbers from your rookies that's what we want considering the way that players post Bailey Smith draft have come in and been able to impact in a meaningful way these numbers may seem underwhelming to you but I really hope that's not the case this is a guy who wasn't playing on a halfback flank who wasn't taking kickouts he was still getting a decent of contested ball considering his rate was just under 42% they're really good numbers to start with so tick in that regard and the fact he was still able to work defensively and lay four tackles a game shows that he was up for the fight and then 2020 kicked in Co kicked in how much of a jump could you expect from a young player going into a shorten season well this was a pretty big jump for the Bas Linka himself cuz he absolutely took the piss in a shortened season racking up pretty good numbers there sacrific some tackles to get himself into the 20s and considering that 20% of quarters were effectively eliminated from games if you put an extra 20% in there you're looking at a guy who would have averaged in a length in season 25 upwards of nearly 26 disposals a game absolutely huge numbers so to two years in and he's gone on that rapid ascent and so did the Bulldogs coming off a season in which they made finals it would be a grandfinal season for the doggies and when Marcus bonon Pell gold in that third quarter it looked like a secondary Luke beverage Le Grand Final would be headed to Whit Noel alas this would not be the case if we spoken about on this channel quite a few times but without a doubt bayy Smith season was the best best that he had put up so far with numbers that look like this 17 goals from a midfielder wingman is absolutely Elite as he was up around that 24 disposal Mark and who can forget that Infamous ice in the VIN celebration up at the gabber truly iconic and for those of you that might think that that is cringe or corny or anything like that get someing personality will you enjoy the fact that players can show off can gloat can do all these things right KY Lan's the same Tom paple is the same we need entertainers entertainers can become villains we know that but we at least need to enjoy character in the game we can't demand personality and then not like when personality shows up just because it doesn't align with either the footy team we follow or anything like that if you didn't enjoy the ice in the VIN celebration unless you're a brisban fan come on you've got to be able to enjoy those things and taking inspiration from the end NBA NFL these kinds of sports is just how things go they're Global they're popular it happens let Young People Express themselves but ultimately it would not be Premiership glory for Bas Lena and in 2022 he would take his game to yet another level the Bulldogs might have had some serious doubts over them during this season but as a more Midfield time generated player that bayy Smith became his numbers went through and I hope I'm saying this correctly the [ __ ] roof as he average nearly 30 disposals those inside 50 numbers are also Elite and nearly four clearances a game really does show the way he was able to exit the ball from clearance now if you are a club that's looking to pick him up and we're going to talk about those clubs in just a minute it's easy to say that this version of bayy Smith is the one that you want and absolutely that would be ideal we would take those numbers any day of the week but what's so important about those numbers is not just his ability to get the footy but the fact that he's driving it in long one in every five of his disposals were going inside the forward half teams that aren't generating scores in their forward half or maybe aren't doing as well in the inside 50 metric are going to be the ones that need him the most whether he's putting up these numbers or his 2023 numbers right it makes pure sense that you're going to be able to get more guys with ball in hand that want to drive the ball forward teams that have got really good ball movement or teams that are striving for good ball movement now there is an argument to be made isn't that all of them but there are some teams in the competition where ball movement is not their weakness and it's also not a point where they can really go to another level or they just might have other things to address Sydney is so good yes bayy Smith would seem unfair with their salary cap for example but you don't look at Sydney's ball movement and go you know what would make it even better bayy Smith with quality that they've got and I don't mean that in a disrespectful way whatsoever you look at a team maybe like North Melbourne who we haven't even spoken about yet in this regard would absolutely love him the fact that they've chased Elliot yo these kinds of players imagine Luke Davies UNC bayy Smith and George wardor as the core of your Midfield wow that would be really something and they're not even the teams that are on the thumbnail that could use biley Smith at this point but what happened to his last season before his ACL well some people might say he got Bevo he did miss some games here and there for the reasons we've spoken about earlier in this video as well as your little niggles that you pick up now and then but he did put up serviceable numbers but by no means had the Midfield Centric season that 2022 popped up whilst those numbers still look good it can't really argue the fact that they aren't near his 2022 numbers but overall for his career has played 103 games average nearly 23 disposals if that is your Bas Mark for the next 150 games for his career at least the next 100 go and get him which is what clubs will want to do as he recovers from his ACL in Europe I found it hilarious that they called it a White Lotus vacation which I think was made by someone who hasn't watched that show before but alas we're not here to hang [ __ ] on the media this video would go for about 4 and a half month hours so who could Target Bailey Smith in this upcoming trade period and where are the clubs that could most likely get him or not only the coin but the marketability where are his best fits well as crazy as it sounds let's start with the reigning Premier yep the pies could really use bayy Smith whilst they've still got the old heads in Scott pendelbury you could even call Jack crisp in that category if you wanted to Jordan deoy Tom Mitchell yes they're still around not going anywhere bayy Smith could start on a wing in his career at Collingwood still side bottom there's your age replacement right there would add a ton of excitement to collingwood's ball movement he's already close with Nick deos as you probably know if you follow any kind of AFL social media you will know that that is the case and those two together would make Collingwood even more marketable than they already are and apart from probably West Coast maybe they're 1 a and 1B this is not what I where I want to have the debate in this video I should say but it would make Collingwood unlikely likable if that makes sense they would be so good to watch so fun to watch their ball movement would be so good we would hate ourselves for enjoying watching Collingwood play which is just nuts but also what he would add to the Collingwood side is some help as good as the pies are going and look if they win the flag with these kind of numbers I'll put my hand up and go I was wrong but the way he's able to find the footy use it get his meters gained score these kinds of things if he along with deoy Mitchell and these guys that have got to come back in can improve these kind of numbers that would be absolutely extraordinary considering 11th in inside 50s 12th in meters gain he fixes both of those with the way that he plays the game he's not afraid to win the contested Ball but getting it on the outside and on the ground 15th and sixth in those regards is going to be massive for collingwood's Midfield development six for clearances if he's on the outside of the stoppage he and Nick Doos along with Josh of course on the other Wing what a combination that would be from help their scoring isn't too bad from stoppage and turnover top eight in both of those categories and depending on how much he would get from Center bounce could help their scoring I do also understand that scoring from Center bounc is still a bit your for forwards and cing would need to finally grow some balls and get tall forwards into their lineup they just do but we want to flag without them I know but you want to win the next flag and it's still a concern and if they want to prove me wrong they absolutely can Bailey Smith to the pies would be almost unfair but that's why it's such a good fit let's go to jalong 7-0 they started the season 1- six since then so where the hell are they actually at and looking at their Midfield Centric numbers they're doing fine in fact pretty damn [ __ ] well to be honest but what is needing to happen at the cie is they need mids and if you're looking at a guy that could come in and help that Midfield core immediately it's bayy Smith even if Mitch Duncan retires you're not putting him on a wing you really aren't do not put Bailey Smith on the wing Chris Scott if you're listening listening ears on right here Chris right here right here don't put bayy Smith in the mid uh on the wing Jesus I stuff that up put him in the Midfield absolutely even with numbers that look like this fifth H sorry sixth in inside 50 second in meters gained fifth in contested ball he's definitely going to help the uncontested ball although that hasn't really been the cat style this year at all fifth from clearances so being on the outside would still help they're able to score from their variety of sources but how long has Tomahawk got left how long does Jeremy Cameron have left now no doubt Cameron's got more time than Hawkins does in this regard so who is he kicking to but you've also got to think about it it's not like you would only get bayy Smith if you're the captain that would stop your whole recruiting Drive he's a piece but you can still find other pieces and other ways to make this happen so don't think that it's well if they get Smith they're going to have no one else that's not really how it works even if they do have to give up two first round draft picks it's jalong they'll find a way trust me right and as he develops with Jack Bose Tanner bruan these young guys that can work together in this Midfield their back six which although they've conceded some massive scores that will improve as the Midfield gets better don't think otherwise in the slightest that forward line needs to be fixed but if you're looking for a piece in the middle bayy Smith is your guy add to the fact he'd be the most marketable person in jalong for quite a little bit although they haven't really had problems in that department but he would sweep up that town like a storm jalong being outside of Melbourne though might be a disadvantage depending on where Bailey wants to go what kind of impact that he wants to have he could either be the biggest fish in a medium Pond or he could attempt to be a big fish in a massive Pond and again that'll come down to his decision and we'll talk about that a little bit later on but you can't deny that jalong is an elite fit and the numbers may not show it but they do need need him as well and look call it bias but my boys want him so let's talk about his fit at the Hawks so something that I've really been trying to adopt in my videos as of late is that numbers tell a story not the story because if I asked you who's in better form at the moment jalong or Hawthorne you would say Hawthorne without a shadow of a doubt and showing you the numbers that I showed you from jalong you are going to see Hawthorne's numbers and go how are they so good at this point in time is it all the first 5 weeks were a disaster partly and they've definitely turned things around but imagine adding Bailey Smith to the form that Hawthorne are in and they begin to improve these numbers I mean yes they're top eight in inside 50s but meter's gain is horrible at 15th 12th in contested ball 10th in uncontested ball it helped with both of those fifth in ground balls and their first in ground balls in their forward half the Hawkers so woohoo 16th in clearances if he plays in the Midfield hello there you go that's helping us and even around the ground but scoring from stoppage is still not great scoring from turnover Is Not Great from Center bounce is improving which is nice but when you inject bayy Smith into a team that's already got will day in it going beautifully John Nukem who's going beautifully and considering the mosquito Fleet up forward that the Hawks are getting if you told me that you as a Hawthorn fan you could have a fit Mitch Lewis and a healthy biley Smith and a healthy James blank Hawks are top four next year the Hawks are top four next year I'm telling you if those things happen oh but Daz what did you do what did you say about the crows if you're still blaming me for that number one but number two I did revisit that take and dissected the good and bad of it you can watch that please do not too many people have so it' be great if he could do that right but you can't convince me that bayy Smith is not the perfect fit Hawthorne could pay him the most first of all wages are going up next year anyway throw 1.25 throwing 1.3 for the first year offer him six years he's going to be 24 he'll be 29 when he comes out of contract do that if the contract's worth it give him three more take him to 32 Bing Bang Boom Hawthorne need to throw the war chest at Bailey Smith I put a poll up on Twitter would they rather Bailey Smith or Logan McDonald now personally I am kind of like this poll is 5248 around that Mark on yeah Bailey probably if Mitch Lewis is fit of course and I love Logan McDonald I love bayy Smith too but the idea of bayy Smith to Hawthorne makes me so so so excited and with that mix of boys the social media the clout the marketing the likeability or the unlik ability for opposition fans which you just kind of have to love just oh please make this happen Jared ruad and Mark McKenzie please and look yes I suppose we should talk about the team he's still actually well not playing for but associated with that being the Western Bulldogs who have got a top two percentage in the league I believe at this time of recording and whilst yes a 24y old at the start of next year would be exactly what this rebuilding retooling re- shifting re whatever the you want to call it Club is going through I still think it's a feda comple that he leaves and I still think the Bulldogs have done a good job in their recruiting space in the drafts the last couple of years that they could add this kind of talent into the four paron Bloks up with Riley Sanders in a post Tom Liberator Adam tror world I still think they need to get Jed buzzslinger in there but their pieces are okay without bayy Smith at this point and if you could tell the Bulldogs now they could get pick and let's just throw some figures out there pick seven and pick 15 for bayy Smith off an ACL I think they do that every time and considering how Midfield heavy this draft is you could go midfielder first playmaker second you really could and that would be a net positive result for the Bulldogs moving forward so in terms of what percentages the Bailey Smith 2025 pie chart if you will I'm going to look at it this way I'm still slightly jalong ahead of Hawthorne 40 to 39% I am going to throw the pies in there at 20% and sure I'll give the Bulldogs 1% cuz it would be rude to have them at zero but I hope it's the Hawks for obvious reasons but I get if it's not and I can't wait to see how he goes no matter whose jumper has on so that is the end guys I hope you enjoyed like the video if you like the video subscribe to join the dead talks footy family we're not at 3K yet want to get there as soon as possible it's been absolutely huge the support you've been able to give me mock draft is coming very very soon as well share this with a footy loving mate get them on board hope you had a fantastic weekend and I'll see you absolute Legends very soon