Geelong assistant coach Steven King has declared Bailey Smith will line up next Thursday when the club opens the 2025 campaign with a contest against Brisbane.
Smith - who joined the Cats after successfully requesting a trade from the Western Bulldogs - hasn't been sighted on a football field since 2023 after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and was treated cautiously after a unique injury.
The Herald Sun's Jon Ralph revealed that the 24-year-old had tweaked his knee during Pilates, reportedly over-stretching and placing, albeit minor, concern in the Geelong camp.
King allayed any fears post-match against Essendon, saying their star recruit will face the Lions in a week's time.
"He will definitely play," King said.
"He tweaked his knee a little bit, but it was very minor. He was sitting up there tonight going 'I could have played'.
"We just thought he has missed so much footy, got through really well against Hawthorn last week. Let's just give him two or three really good sessions ahead of Brisbane, so he will definitely play."
Fellow recruit and former Carlton forward Jack Martin is also inching closer to his return, showing "glimpses" at training that will excite Cats fans.
Across his 11 seasons spent at Gold Coast and the Blues, Martin has only put together one full year (2017) and put together his worst return over the past dozen months, featuring in three matches before being delisted.
In true Geelong fashion, they saw a bargain-base bargain, and with the hope of turning his wretched injury run around, could see the 29-year-old become an x-factor for the perpetually contending Cats.
Don't sleep on Jack Martin this year. Cats happy to build him up slowly before senior action. Got a half in the VFL tonight. In his best shape for years. Cats pulling him out of training at times as a precaution and he's on board with the plan but hasn't missed a beat @FOXFOOTY
โ Jon Ralph (@RalphyHeraldSun) February 25, 2025
Martin featured in the VFL curtain-raiser on Tuesday as the club continues to build him up to the rigours of top-flight football.
And King believes he is "very close".
"You see what he does at training and in glimpses at the moment and it is high class. He is a very talented player, he is hard, he is smart," King said.
"We want to get him in the team, but we want him to be there when the whips are cracking at the right time of the year.
"We'll make sure we don't set Jack up to come in and just have an impact for a week; we want it to be sustained. We're not going to be rushed just because it is Opening Round or round one. He is building really nicely."
