Collingwood is “the clear frontrunner” to land Western Bulldogs midfielder Bailey Smith in the 2024 trade period, with Pies players copping a “photo ban” with the star.
The 23-year-old, who will miss the entire 2024 season due to an off-season ACL tear, has long been suspected as a trade target as he comes out of contract.
His enormous profile somewhat outstrips his on-field achievements but Smith is set to be a hot property with Geelong often viewed as the early top candidate for his future services.
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But the No.7 pick in the 2018 draft is moving closer to pulling a reverse Adam Treloar and joining the Magpies, reports the Herald Sun’s Sam Landsberger, with firm links to the Daicos brothers – to the extent that the club has reportedly had to tell its players to stop posting so many photos with Smith.
“I think Collingwood has emerged as the clear frontrunner to secure Bailey Smith’s services next year,” Landsberger told Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle on Wednesday night.
“We’ve all been thinking Geelong for probably 12 months, they share that sponsorship with Cotton On, we know Hawthorn would love him in their midfield as well.
“But I think it’s the Magpies who lead the race for Bailey, who we all accept has one foot out the door at Whitten Oval.
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“The thought has been that the lifestyle down at Geelong is big for him – he’s a marquee man, he loves the big smoke. You know he spent the off-season in New York with all the Collingwood boys? Lots of happy snaps, he’s business partners with Nick and Josh Daicos.
“I can tell you tonight that Collingwood has told their players, no more photos with Bailey. This is getting out of hand. They sent the message out to players, no more publicity with Bailey Smith.”
Fellow reporter Scott Gullan quipped: “They’re going to the next level, they have got serious, progressed and now it’s like ‘boys, just don’t give too much away!’”
He argued Smith’s work with the clothing brand Cotton On, which has strong connections with Geelong – both the city and the football club – was a clear tie to a Cats move.
“He (Smith) travels down there a couple of times a week. He’s got a clothing range. Very close to him down there,” Gullan said.
“They’re (Cotton On) heavy hitters down there. They’re heavy hitters at that football club.”
But a move for Smith, who is about to enter his AFL prime with the 2025 season to be his seventh in the system, would fit the Magpies’ plans to trade aggressively in an attempt to remain at the top of the ladder without rebuilding.
“I spoke to Jeff Browne, the president, about where this club is heading,” Landsberger said. “And they want to defy gravity like Geelong and Sydney and stay at the top of the ladder for a very long time to come.
“And to do that, they’re going to be very aggressive in the marketplace. I think Glenn McFarlane told this show last week in coming years they could clear up around $5 million in cap space (via retirements and exits).
“Browne told me, successful clubs, they don’t drop down to the bottom of the ladder, the draft doesn’t work for them. We have to trade to improve our side … and surely Bailey Smith is the No.1 target.”
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Collingwood doesn’t have its 2024 first-round pick due to the Lachie Schultz trade, and it’s thought their future first round pick would be unders as a straight swap for Smith.
“He’s done his knee, and he’s been inconsistent since that (2021) finals series,” the Herald Sun’s Jay Clark pointed out.
Landsberger suggested a future first and second could be enough to land Smith.
Source Agencies
