Collingwood has emerged as the favourite to land Bailey Smith in the 2024 AFL trade period as speculation ramps up about the Western Bulldogs star's future.
Geelong and Hawthorn have also been linked to the box-office midfielder, who will miss the entire 2024 campaign with a knee injury, since stories emerged he was gettable last season.
The Sporting News explains everything there is to know about Smith's future.
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Who is favourite to land Bailey Smith during AFL trade period?
If Smith decides to depart the Bulldogs, which seems increasingly likely, Collingwood have emerged as the favourite for his services.
Recently, Smith has been pictured consistently on social media with Collingwood players, including Nick and Josh Daicos.
On Fox Footy in April, Herald Sun journalist Sam Landsberger claimed Collingwood is keen to sign Smith and has told its players to stop taking so many photos with the midfielder.
Geelong are also believed to still be in the race for Smith, with both the Cats and player having strong ties to clothing brand Cotton On.
There is also interest from Hawthorn, who have plenty of salary cap space, but Collingwood and Geelong appear to be stronger suitors if immediate success is wanted by Smith.
When does Bailey Smith's contract expire?
Smith's contract with the Western Bulldogs expires at the end of the 2024 season.
He is not a free agent so any suitor will have to trade for the player, or run the risk of him going through the pre-season draft.
The Bulldogs would likely want to keep Smith at the club but have been strangely silent about his future.
It's possible that the money being offered by other AFL clubs is simply a price they don't want to pay for the player.
Bailey Smith's ACL knee injury
Smith tore his anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during Western Bulldogs pre-season training session on December 13.
He will miss the entirety of the 2024 season with the injury.
Smith should be able to begin pre-season for the 2025 campaign at full fitness however, it's just uncertain which club he will be at.
When did Bailey Smith trade rumours emerge?
After the conclusion of the 2023 AFL season, Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph reported Smith is an '80 per cent' chance to leave the club at the end of the 2024 season.
At the time, Smith had been linked with a move to Geelong and Hawthorn, with Collingwood believed to be developing an interest.
"The chances of him moving on seem to be about 80 per cent," Ralph wrote.
"So the onus is on Smith to work his butt off to improve his kicking and on-ball craft so (coach) Luke Beveridge simply has to give him more centre bounce opportunities.
"Then he can either stay on a significant deal or explore the market at the end of 2024.
"This year his lack of impact meant Beveridge wasn’t proved wrong by pushing him to half forward."
Bailey Smith's off-field incidents
During his five years in the AFL system, Smith has been involved in two reported incidents off the field.
The first was a police investigation into an incident that occurred on the Gold Coast in October 2021, where Smith allegedly pushed a man outside a Burleigh Heads pub.
However, nothing eventuated from those allegations.
Two months later, Smith was granted an indefinite period of leave away from the AFL by the Western Bulldogs.
In June 2022, vision emerged of Smith holding a bag filled with a white substance at a party.
Shortly after the video was made public, Smith admitted to using recreational drugs in a statement released via the club.
The AFL suspended Smith for two games following his admission.
