Source : ABC NEWS
Bailey Smith has sat out Geelong training, further ratcheting up the hype around Thursday night’s massive home AFL clash with his old club, the Western Bulldogs.
The Cats privately cautioned against reading anything into Tuesday’s absence, noting they have a five-day break and that Smith trained indoors.
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However, given Geelong’s well-established habit of making late team changes, this could be another angle for the potential match of the season.
Geelong will be without captain Patrick Dangerfield and Jack Bowes because of hamstring injuries, while defensive general Tom Stewart could return from his knee problem.
The loss of Dangerfield means Smith’s drive and pace become even more important to the Cats — provided he plays.
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With the Bulldogs fifth and Geelong seventh on the ladder, this was already a big fixture. Geelong’s Mitch Duncan will also play his 300th game.
Then Smith flicked a match into a can of petrol a fortnight ago, moments after the Cats had narrowly beaten Collingwood in front of a massive MCG crowd.
Smith cheekily said of the packed house, “it’s beautiful … I’m not getting that in Ballarat”.
Earlier that day, the Bulldogs had beaten Port in front of barely 5,000 fans because of construction works at their Ballarat venue.
Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli chipped back, saying it was nice to know they’re still on Smith’s mind, and the latter duly posted a fish emoji to note his old skipper had taken the bait.
That prompted several stories about Smith’s strained end to his time at the Bulldogs, when he could not play all last year while recovering from a knee reconstruction.
Smith was traded to the Cats and has thrived so far this season.
His departure is one of several setbacks the Bulldogs have overcome this year.
Despite the loss of key forwards Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Sam Darcy, they are the highest-scoring team in the AFL.
Ugle-Hagan has not played this year and may be lost to the Bulldogs as he continues to struggle with off-field issues.
Darcy was flying in the early rounds until he jarred a knee and won’t be seen again until late in the season.
Bontempelli also missed the start of the season because of a calf injury. Coach Luke Beveridge is yet to re-sign.
AAP
