There was a period, not all that long ago, when Bailey Smith muscled his way into the discussion about who the best player from his draft class was.
A few years down the track, is he even in the conversation, anymore?
A quick jump into the Mongrel Time Machine, and a trip back to 2021 provides us with a snapshot of what looked like the best young player in the game, at that particular point in time.
Whilst he was pretty good in the Grand Final against the Dees – for three quarters, anyway, it was the three finals prior to that saw him put his stamp on that series. Averaging 23.3 disposals and 2.66 goals per game, he blew the doors off the Prelim, with two of his four snags coming in the first quarter, as the Dogs destroyed Port Adelaide, and it appeared as though he was ready to ascend to the throne.
Form is fleeting, though.
Since then, others from his draft have ascended to vye for the title of best from that draft. Sam Walsh is an Alll-Australian. As is Zak Butters x 2. And Connor Rozee has added the captaincy of the Power to his two AA selections. Nick Blakey is an All-Australian now. Bobby Hill has a Norm Smith Medal.
Meanwhile, injury has conspired with a few other issues to see Smith fall off the pace quite significantly.
For a man with a massive profile… a massive ‘brand’ if you choose to look at it that way, Bailey Smith enters season number seven of his AFL life with plenty to prove.
And a bit to lose.
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