Bailey Smith, the 24-year-old star of the Geelong Cats, is coming off arguably the best game of his career. To everyone’s surprise, including interviewer Mark Howard, he was named captain of the 2023 All Australian team. This award was his first time being chosen to the highly regarded roster. He went on to receive his first All Australian blazer for an inspirational return to form after a period of professional turmoil.
During the AFL Awards night, Smith bravely opened up, revealing his tragedy-filled history. He did so with great courage by sharing his personal journey where he had spent four weeks in a psych ward at Epworth Camberwell. His frank comments gave a sense of how difficult things were for him last year. An ACL injury knocked him out, keeping him from ever taking the field this season.
In spite of these challenges, Smith showed grit and tenacity, coming back onto the field and undoubtedly impressing many, securing himself as a finalist due to his stellar play. He stressed even new regular visits to his psychologist – a crucial mental health care detail that saved his own life.
“I still see my psych today, it helps me.” – Bailey Smith
Smith’s journey has not been easy. He referred to last year as a “dark period.” During that time, he realized it was hard to train more than two or three hours a day. Through the process, he’s come out on the other side stronger, and with a better understanding of the importance of mental health. He urged everyone else who is dealing with things like depression or addiction to reach out and ask for help.
“It was hard but it was something I had to do.” – Bailey Smith
In His Reflections Smith shared his journey of changing his attitude towards mental health. He emphasized that mental injuries should be treated with equal importance and care as physical ones.
“I think I just changed my mindset from if you have an injury you need to rehab it in the gym. If you have an injury mentally it’s just rehabbing and keeping on top of that.” – Bailey Smith
His manager, Robbie D’Orazio, has been an essential part of the support system that has carried Murphy during this tumultuous time. That positive reinforcement from Smith’s teammates, like D’Orazio and others, put Smith back on the right path.
The Geelong Cats, from Australia, just qualified for the AFL finals and are currently the favorite to win the premiership. In their qualifying final they will face Brisbane’s Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Smith’s leadership both on and off the field makes it probable that his teammates will be inspired to help carry their team to a championship victory.
“Tough period but wouldn’t change it for the world. It always makes sense in retrospect. Just know whatever dark period you’re going through one day it’ll make sense.” – Bailey Smith
His message of hope extends far beyond football, though, as he tells audiences to break the stigma by raising awareness about mental health issues. Smith’s fairly groundbreaking journey to the professional level is just one moment that showcases his athletic prowess. It initiates a significant discussion about mental health and the courage required to fight one’s internal conflicts.
