How a slight role change for Smith could unlock Geelong’s “point of difference” on the ball

Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney is expecting Bailey Smith to make an immediate impact in his first season with Geelong.

The 23-year-old got his wish to join Geelong this off-season after the Bulldogs agreed to a four-way trade with the Cats, Carlton and St Kilda, losing Smith and Jack Macrae with Pick 17 and Matt Kennedy coming back to The Kennel.

Smith was the player who held the most value in that deal given his age and having 103 games for the Bulldogs behind him where he was a four-time 22under22 recipient.

While Smith showed signs of superstardom at the Dogs after initially being taken with Pick 7 in the 2018 Draft, he missed the entire 2024 season with an ACL injury.

Although he’s coming off a long layoff, Cooney thinks that Smith can turn into a goal-kicking midfielder at Geelong and he tipped the midfielder to spend more time on the inside after playing primarily on a wing for Luke Beveridge.

Cooney discussed his role and where he fits in at GMHBA Stadium with Sam Edmund on SEN Breakfast.

Edmund: “With Bailey Smith’s on-field role, he will make a significant difference, won’t he?”

Cooney: “At his best he will definitely make a difference.

“We saw that blistering finals series that he had where he was a goal-kicking mid and a line breaker. 

“I'm not sure if he plays on a wing or if he plays inside at the Cats. If Cam Guthrie is fully fit, he comes back into the midfield group and Ollie Dempsey going up to the wing I think was a great move for them last year.

“There's also Mitch Duncan who has patrolled that other wing for the best part of probably 15 years now. 

“That other wing could be Bailey Smith’s if they want some outside run up and back. But I think he plays his best footy inside.”

Edmund: “I’d be playing him inside mid every day because, with Max Holmes, they're the points of difference in that midfield for me. 

“I know Patrick Dangerfield's still got that acceleration, but just these guys are going to play the vast majority of weeks and we probably can't rely on Paddy to do that anymore.”

Cooney: “You can also throw Mark Blicavs out onto the other wing, he can run up and down all day, so I’d like to see Bailey Smith go inside and then go forward because he’s pretty dangerous.”

Smith and the Cats open their 2025 campaign with an Opening Round clash against reigning premiers Brisbane on Thursday, March 6.

Photo: Geelong FC