Bailey Smith

Bailey Smith (born 7 December 2000) is a professional Australian rules footballer who plays for the Western Bulldogs in the Australian Football League (AFL).[2] He was recruited by the Western Bulldogs with the 7th draft pick in the 2018 AFL draft.[3][4]

Bailey Smith
Personal information
Full name Bailey Smith
Nickname(s) Bazlenka[1]
Date of birth (2000-12-07) 7 December 2000
Original team(s) Sandringham Dragons, Xavier College
Draft No. 7, 2018 AFL draft, Western Bulldogs
Debut 23 March 2019, Western Bulldogs
vs. Sydney, at Marvel Stadium
Height 185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 80 kg (176 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder
Club information
Current club Western Bulldogs
Number 6
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2019– Western Bulldogs 41 (17)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of Round 14 2020.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early years

Smith played his early career for the East Malvern Junior Football Club in Melbourne's south-east.[5] In 2011, he won the MSJFL under-11 west division best and fairest award.[6] Smith played for the Sandringham Dragons in the NAB League for the 2017 and 2018 seasons.[7][8] Smith only played two games in the 2018 seasons due to suffering an achilles injury.[9] Smith was also selected to play for Vic Metro in the AFL Under 18 Championships for the 2018 season, where he claimed Vic Metro's Most Valuable Player Award, and was named in the Under 18 All-Australian team.[10][11]

AFL career

2019 season: Debut

Smith made his AFL debut in the Western Bulldogs' win over the Sydney Swans in the opening round of the 2019 AFL season.[12] He kicked his first goal in the Western Bulldogs' 14 pointloss to Collingwood in the 4th round of the 2019 season.[13] He earned a 2019 AFL Rising Star nomination in the Bulldogs' Round 9 loss to Geelong.[14] In that game, he collected 28 disposals, his highest tally that season.[15] Smith finished fourth in the 2019 NAB Rising Star award behind Sam Walsh, Connor Rozee and Sydney Stack. [16] He was also named as the Chris Grant Best First Year Player for the Western Bulldogs.[17]

2020 season: Rapid Improvement

Smith did not miss a single game in the 2020 AFL season, meaning he had played 35 consecutive games.[18][19] Smith had his best game for the year in the Western Bulldogs' 57 point victory over Adelaide in the 12th round of the season, wherehe collected a career-high 37 disposals, as well as 4 marks, 3 tackles and 10 inside 50s.[20] He also had a great game in the Western Bulldogs's 39 point loss to St Kilda, where he collected 29 disposals, 5 tackles and 2 marks.[21] Smith was named ruck rover of the 2020 22 Under 22 team.[22]

Honours and achievements

Individual

Statistics
Statistics are correct to the end of the 2020 season [19]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
AFL playing statistics
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2019 Western Bulldogs 623111018422240658930.50.48.09.717.72.54.00
2020[lower-alpha 1] Western Bulldogs 6186919019238230450.30.510.610.721.21.72.57
Career 35 17 19 374 414 788 88 138 0.4 0.5 9.1 10.1 19.22 2.2 3.4 7

Notes

  1. The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References
  1. "Weird footy nicknames: So why do they call Gov 'Brackets'?". AFL Media. 17 March 2019. Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  2. "Bailey Smith Player Profile". westernbulldogs.com.au. 3 June 2019.
  3. Gabelich, Joshua (15 February 2019). "Western Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli says top draft pick Bailey Smith is one of the best athletes he has seen". Fox Sports. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  4. Waterworth, Ben (21 November 2018). "AFL draft 2018: Bailey Smith diet, training, running, Gryan Miers, Jack Higgins, Western Bulldogs". Fox Sports. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
  5. "Bailey Smith visits his local footy club". Western Bulldogs. 3 September 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  6. East, Malvern JFC (13 September 2011). "U11 Whites Bailey Smith wins SMJFL 2011 Best & Fairest for U11 West Division". Sports TG. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  7. Di Pietro, Kavisha (22 May 2019). "'This kid with the long, blonde mullet is going to be something'". AFLPLayers. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  8. "Eigh dragons achieve AFL dreams". Sandringham Dragons Media. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  9. "Bailey Smith". Aussie Rules Draft Central. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  10. Bunn, Sam. "Smith sets himself for even greater heights". Sandringham Dragons FC Media. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  11. Balmer, Matt (10 July 2018). "AFL Draft 2018: Possible No. 1 pick Bailey Smith says he isn't satisfied with his season so far". Fox Sports. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  12. "'It's all about the future now,' Bevo says of new-look Dogs". afl.com.au. 24 March 2019.
  13. "Collingwood vs Western Bulldogs - Player Stats". AFLTables. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  14. "Limited pre-season, but unlimited potential for Dogs' Rising Star". westernbulldogs.com.au. 21 May 2019.
  15. "Geelong vs Western Bulldogs - Player Stats". AFLTables.
  16. https://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-09-20/why-isnt-vfl-ruck-star-nick-meese-playing-afl
  17. "All The Awards | Charles Sutton Medal". Western Bulldogs Media. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  18. "Baz's big impact continues". Western Bulldogs Media. 23 August 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  19. "Bailey Smith". AFL Tables. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  20. "Western Bulldogs vs Adelaide - Player Stats". AFLTables. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  21. "St Kilda vs Western Bulldogs - Player Stats". AFLTables. Retrieved 4 December 2020.
  22. "Dogs duo in 22under22 team". Western Bulldogs Media. 22 September 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
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