‘I won’t say it’: Bulldogs address approach to Smith

Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has playfully suggested it has taken their trip to Kardinia Park for Geelong’s home ground to be filled.

Thursday night’s showdown at GMHBA Stadium is one of the most eagerly anticipated games of the AFL season, as Bailey Smith fronts up against his former Bulldogs teammates for the first time.

The 24-year-old has created headlines all year with his dazzling on-field performances, combined with cheeky post-game interview – and social media – barbs towards his old club.

Smith’s departure from Whitten Oval at the end of last season was far from smooth, but the tension went up a notch when the star midfielder took aim at the Bulldogs’ second home ground.

“Beautiful mate. Not getting that at Ballarat,” Smith said when asked this month how it felt winning in front of a big crowd at the MCG.

Beveridge has been asked about Smith in almost every press conference since those infamous remarks.

On Wednesday, the 2016 premiership coach almost stopped himself, before going back at the Cats’ crowd numbers.

“It’s taken the Bulldogs to go down there for them to almost pack out their stadium,” Beveridge said with a grin.

“I don’t know what that means for ‘Baz’ (Smith) … I know what the headline is going to be now.”

Beveridge insisted the Bulldogs’ build-up this week had been no different to any other, but admitted there was “theatre attached to the game”.

Smith has also been in spectacular form, recently being installed as the second favourite for the Brownlow Medal, only behind Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos.

“That doesn’t come into discussions with our preparation, with our planning tactically and the way we build ourselves up for the game,” Beveridge said.

“The emotional part of it’s got to do with us and our journey and what we can achieve

“The key individuals in the Geelong team obviously transcend Bailey.

“We don’t go out of our way to antagonise and get under anyone’s skin unnecessarily.

“There’s obviously a combative aspect, and there’s a verbal aspect of the game that exists every week, no matter who you play.”