Beveridge taking realistic approach to Bailey Smith’s Bulldogs future

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has taken a realistic approach when it comes to Bailey Smith’s future at the cub.

The 23-year-old is out of contract this year and as a result is the subject of interest from several clubs including Collingwood, Geelong and Hawthorn.

Smith is set to soon jet off to Europe as part of his recovery from an ACL injury that has sidelined him for the 2024 season.

That prompted a question asked of Beveridge: Does he expect Smith to be a Bulldog in 2025?

“I hope he is,” Beveridge said on Channel 7’s Talking Footy.

“I wouldn’t say expect, I think he’s got a lot to work through.

“We haven’t got our head in the sand, we know that there’s a number of clubs who Bailey appeals to.”

Beveridge insists the club is doing everything in their power to retain Smith, but he understands that the likely lucrative offers that may come his way could turn his head.

“We’re working behind the scenes to make sure that he’s able to come back fit, healthy and strong first and foremost,” he continued.

“But secondary to that I know he feels like he’s a significant part of the football club.

“It’s just in the market and the short space of time the playing group have to work within, if there’s a club or two three that come to him with an astronomical deal, he may not be able to knock it back as far as making hay.

“There’s obviously stories about players sacrificing some of that to stay in an environment. We’ll work with him on his thought processes on that.”

It is understood that Smith has had a two-year offer from the Dogs in front of him since March.