- Bailey Smith’s Instagram post made many football fans curious
- Western Bulldogs star player said ‘there are two sides to every story’
- Midfielder has formally requested transfer from Whitten Oval
- Smith, 23, is expected to be on Geelong’s books in 2025
AFL superstar Bailey Smith has sparked controversy after quickly deleting an Instagram post in which he wrote: “Please note there are two sides to every story” and added a clown emoji.
The message – which also includes the term ‘one day’ – comes after the Western Bulldogs midfielder officially informed the club that he wants to be traded, with players such as Geelong, Hawthorn and Collingwood reportedly interested in Smith’s services for next season.
Smith, who led the Bulldogs to a finals appearance in 2021, was forced to sit out the entire 2024 season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in training in December.
The 23-year-old’s future has been a recurring topic of conversation, and as the season progressed it became increasingly clear that he wanted to leave Whitten Oval.
When the Bulldogs parted ways with the club on Monday following last Friday night’s finals defeat to the Hawks, the club confirmed that Smith had requested a transfer.
“Western Bulldogs midfielder Bailey Smith has informed the club that he wants a transfer this summer,” a statement said on Monday.
The 23-year-old has not yet indicated a preferred club.
AFL superstar Bailey Smith has sparked controversy after he quickly deleted an Instagram post in which he said: ‘Reminder: there are two sides to every story’, along with a clown emoji
Smith’s social media post on Tuesday also used the term “one day” (pictured above)
Smith made his AFL debut for the Bulldogs in 2019 and quickly became a fan favourite
‘Given Bailey’s immense talent, age and proven ability to influence matches, the club will work hard to ensure he is fairly compensated throughout the process.’
Smith has played 103 AFL games since being drafted by the Bulldogs in 2018.
Experts believe he is most likely to end up at Geelong, but if he does actually join the team, it could cause controversy.
Should the Cats sign him to play under coach Chris Scott, Smith’s ambassadorial deal with Cotton On will come under heavy scrutiny as the clothing brand is also the AFL club’s main sponsor.
Veteran AFL journalist Jon Ralph wondered how potential third-party deals could work out for Smith, given he has been an ambassador since 2022 and is “a brand himself, plus a social media influencer”.
Jay Clark, Ralph’s colleague at Fox Footy, added that the AFL wants to see “consistency in past earnings” compared to what Smith could potentially earn under the new contract arrangements at Geelong.
Smith made his AFL debut for the Bulldogs in 2019 against the Swans and quickly built a reputation as one of the competition’s best midfielders due to his athleticism.