Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson has responded to Sam Edmund’s report suggesting Geelong are having meaningful trade discussions surrounding Dogs midfielder Bailey Smith.
Smith comes out of contract at the end of next season, but Edmund says the Cats are hoping to lure him to Geelong and have been workshopping a potential move behind the scenes “for some time”.
Much of the chatter around a potential move for Smith has come as he’s being played in various roles and has seen a downturn in form in 2023.
While Smith isn’t playing his best footy, Johnson believes it’s only natural for the former top 10 pick to be a target for clubs given his status as a “top-line” AFL player.
“That's going to happen for Bailey Smith,” Johnson told SEN Sportsday.
“This is when the talks start, a year and a bit out from you being out of contract.
“If you haven't secured an extension by now, then the conversations start.
“Clubs will start inquiring, because he's a top-line player in the competition.”
Given Geelong’s track record of securing players from rival clubs, Johnson isn’t surprised about the reports but says it’s now on the Bulldogs to secure the signature of a player that could be critical in their next premiership push.
“It’s on the Bulldogs now to obviously try and secure that signature of Bailey Smith,” Johnson said.
“It’s an important signature for them to secure with some of the young players they've got coming through and how Bailey certainly assists the next push for a premiership for the Western Bulldogs.
“It’s a big call for him over the next 12 months, no question.
“Clubs will circle, and it doesn't surprise me if Geelong and Andrew Mackie are having conversations in the background.”
Edmund also suggested that other clubs have reached out and inquired about Smith’s availability in trade talks.
The hard-running midfielder won’t play in Thursday night’s clash against Sydney at the SCG due to illness.
Smith is averaging 24.4 disposals, 3.3 marks, 3.1 tackles, 0.2 goals, 0.3 goal assists, 4.0 inside 50s and 1.7 rebound 50s in 2023. All of those statistics are down on his 2022 averages.