Geelong have had to hold Bailey Smith back as the boom recruit attempts to prove himself at his new club, says captain Patrick Dangerfield.<\/p>\n
Smith joined the Cats in last year’s trade period after missing his final season at the Western Bulldogs through an ACL tear suffered in December 2023.<\/p>\n
The eager 24-year-old has already featured in pre-season match simulation but Dangerfield and the Cats hierarchy are wary of Smith overdoing it off the back of injury.<\/p>\n
“He’s put his head down, his bum up, he’s got to work, and that’s been great to see,” Dangerfield said.<\/p>\n
“He’s a really, really diligent trainer.<\/p>\n
“If anything, our challenge has been pulling Bailey back at times and making sure that the broader world understands he’s coming back from an ACL and that’s serious, and he knows it’s serious but he wants to prove himself.<\/p>\n
“So for us, it’s pulling the reins on him and making sure that he understands it’s a long season ahead, it’s a huge career ahead of him that we want him to have in the blue and white.<\/p>\n
“So he’ll probably be frustrated with us from time to time, but he’s going have to wear a little bit of that because he’s going be a really important player for us, and we’re really excited with what he can bring, but, yeah he’s a man possessed and we need to rein him in sometimes.”<\/p>\n
Dangerfield was wary of putting expectations on Smith.<\/p>\n
“We’ve got to be mindful that the most important part, I think first, is just enjoying his footy, enjoying playing, and not having in the back of your mind previous injuries,” Dangerfield said.<\/p>\n
“So that’s the most important part, and I think, the peripheral is developing the game in that sense.<\/p>\n
“Everyone wants to develop their game, and he’s no different to that but we just want him to get back playing, enjoying it and not thinking through all the other stuff that comes with playing AFL footy.”<\/p>\n
Smith is poised to join breakout star Max Holmes in the Cats’ midfield mix, with Dangerfield, 35, prepared to spend more time forward.<\/p>\n
He is also excited for what talented young tall Sam De Koning, 23, can do with more time in the ruck.<\/p>\n
“He’s raw in terms of his capability (tap ability), that’s the developing part of his game, but he’s brilliant around the ground, his ability to win the ball is almost an extra midfielder in that sense,” Dangerfield said.<\/p>\n
“We’re pretty excited with with what he can bring to our team, but he’ll spend a lot of time in defence as well.”<\/p>\n
By\u00a0Anna Harrington and Melissa Woods AAP.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Geelong have had to hold Bailey Smith back as the boom recruit attempts to prove himself at his new club, says captain Patrick Dangerfield. Smith joined the Cats in last year’s trade period after missing his final season at the Western Bulldogs through an ACL tear suffered in December 2023. The eager 24-year-old has already […]<\/p>\n