Western Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson had admitted he isn’t shocked to hear Bailey Smith linked to trade reports being out of contract in a little over 12 months time.
SEN’s Sam Edmund reported this week that Geelong has had “meaningful” trade talks for Smith, having long held interest in the former No. 7 pick, but added that the majority of the competition would also be keen on a move for the gun midfielder.
Speaking on SEN’s Sportsday, Johnson suggested it’s put pressure on his former club to lock away Smith, 22, as an integral part of its core in its bid to push for a third AFL premiership.
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“That’s going to happen for Bailey Smith,” Johnson said of the Smith trade chatter.
“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.
“It’s on the Bulldogs now to obviously try and secure that signature of Bailey Smith.
“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 (Cats list boss) Andrew Mackie are having conversations in the background.”
It comes as Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge recently hit out at commentary that the out-of-form Smith should seek a move to another club, labelling the talk “pungent” and “disrespectful.”
And Beveridge backed Smith, who played through an illness in last Friday night’s loss to Collingwood and will miss Thursday night’s game with the Swans for the same ailment, to rediscover his best form.
Johnson said Smith’s struggles could simply be attributed to a down season while he’s still finding his way at AFL level.
“I don’t really know Bailey – we’ve got the affiliation of (both wearing) the No. 6 and I watch him closely because of that. His year had been OK up until the last three weeks,” Johnson added.
“This might just be the year for Bailey where it is a bit of a stall … because he’s set a bar and maybe he’s not at that bar this year, there’s no reason why he can’t get back to that and some point.”
Dual All-Australian Kane Cornes meanwhile put the onus on Beveridge to help Smith get back to his best form after he’s predominantly played the 98-gamer half forward in recent games.
“My criticism around Luke Beveridge is you’ve got to get your players in the position they deliver the best. That’s not in the role he’s played in the last couple of weeks,” Cornes told Sportsday.
“That might be because he’s sick, I don’t know, but if I’m Luke Beveridge I’m sitting him down and saying: ‘What do we need to do to get you back to your best and what’s the position you need to be played in?’”
‘I’d feel sick if he missed a Brownlow’ | 01:19
GAFF OPEN TO TRADE
Eagles veteran Andrew Gaff is reportedly open to getting a fresh start at another club in 2024, reports The Herald Sun.
Gaff, who’s contracted at West Coast for next season on a lucrative deal worth north of $700,000, has struggled badly in 2023. He’s averaged 18.7 disposals per game – his lowest return since his first AFL campaign in 2011 that included him being made sub on several occasions – to continue the 31-year old’s downward trajectory in recent years.
Rival teams have reportedly identified Gaff as a prime trade target to help the embattled Eagles off-load salary and accelerate the 18th-placed club’s rebuild, however there’s been no interest in the wingman yet this year.
Given the former Pick 4 and Oakleigh Chargers product’s value has significantly declined, it’s thought that the Eagles would still need to contribute a considerable amount of his earnings to play for another side in 2024 in something of a salary dump move.
It comes five years after Gaff sensationally knocked back heavy interest from Victorian clubs including North Melbourne to re-sign with West Coast on a long-term deal that had triggers until 2024.
