Western Bulldogs midfielder Bailey Smith has locked into ‘cheerleader’ mode for the AFL finals after his comeback bid was shut down, admitting he would have kept pushing if not for his future.
The 23-year-old has been sidelined since suffering an ACL injury in December and he will make up his mind on his next contract without playing a single game this year.
Swirling rumours have left Smith highly likely to make a move to Geelong but, speaking for the first time since his injury, refused to be drawn on what’s next.
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“I honestly don’t think too far, that’s the beauty of it,” he told 7NEWS Melbourne.
“I’m just trying to think here and now and not focus on the future, because I’ll have a panic attack otherwise.
“We haven’t even thought about anything like that.
“I’m sure it’ll come, obviously getting towards later in the year, but obviously the knee, health and supporting the boys is the main priority.”
Smith received the Bulldogs’ blessing to escape Melbourne’s winter with an overseas holiday that doubled as a training camp of sorts.
It fuelled his hope that he could return to the field before the end of the year before the Dogs pulled the pin.
“I want to have a long career, it’s not worth the risk versus reward. Obviously a different story if it’s a grand final,” Smith said.
“I’m just going to be their cheerleader for hopefully the finals ahead.”
The Bulldogs can guarantee their place in September with a win over top-four hopefuls GWS Giants on Sunday.
And Smith’s absence from the charge comes in the wake of two more ACL victims going the other way.
Dan McStay, who missed Collingwood’s premiership last year when he went down in the preliminary final, was cut down in November.
The 29-year-old returned to the AFL team in July as part of the Magpies’ bid to reboot their flag defence.
At Carlton, Sam Docherty is still pushing for an even quicker return despite only suffering his injury in March.
It was a first ACL tear to his right knee after previously suffering two in his left.
But Smith, who was 22 in his last game and will be 24 by his next, said he needed to think long-term.
“If I was 30 you’d be like why not keep pushing and get back as quick as I can,” he said.
“But I’ve got so many years after that I want to try and be fit and healthy for.”
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has publicly and repeatedly detailed his waning confidence in Smith sticking with the club for 2025 and beyond.