Bailey Smith, the Geelong midfielder, captivated fans and analysts alike during a recent match against West Coast, where he showcased his extraordinary skills. This is the first cramp of Smith’s career, believe it or not. Despite that disappointment, he bounced back to produce a phenomenal performance that included 38 disposals, 25 of those in the first half. His remarkable impact at the level has seen him emerge a strong favourite for the Brownlow Medal. Moreover, just like everyone else in the country, he is the most surprising recruit of the year.
On Sunday night, Smith’s resilience was on complete showcase. He looked like he was in pain when grabbing his hamstring late in the 4th. He wasted no time calming nerves everywhere by declaring himself healthy and primed to hit the field. “I just write on them every week, so nothing new,” he stated regarding the messages he writes on his boots to keep himself present during games. This unusual but fascinating ritual has drawn the interest of many commentators, not least Brian Taylor.
Taylor expressed admiration for Smith’s approach, noting, “This man here, Bailey Smith, he’s talking the talk, but he’s walking the walk to go with it.” He continued to unpack Smith’s statements, focusing on words and phrases like “spartan” and “take souls.” According to Taylor, “‘Take souls’ has sort of a loose meaning, but it means you’re so incredible at what you do that it forces other people to respect you.”
From start to finish, Smith’s efforts on the day saw him labelled as best-on-ground. Some of his best moments came as he played through packs of defenders, evaded tackles and penetrated the back line from outside the box. This really shows his commitment to furthering his education. Nick Riewoldt, another commentator, acknowledged Smith’s consistency, affirming, “Oh yeah, absolutely — and he’s backing it up.”
