Geelong recruit Bailey Smith has lifted the lid on the significant factors that led to the decision to shift down the highway from the Western Bulldogs.
The star midfielder has long been linked with a move to the Cats, and his sponsorship with Cotton On - which is a sponsor of the Kardinia Park club - was a potential sweetener as rivals made big plays.
But as they do best, Geelong list manager Andrew Mackie and his team got their man, securing Smith in a four-club trade as well as Pick 45 in exchange for Picks 17 and 38.
The 23-year-old was absent from the field throughout 2024 due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in the pre-season, which likely accelerated his move away from the Kennel, with the off-broadway club of Geelong, a perfect suitor for the game's most recognisable name.
Now officially a Cat, despite some toing and froing that almost saw Smith walked to the National Draft, the former Pick 7 can't wait to get started at his new digs.
"The future's exciting. It's a successful club," Smith said in a club interview on Thursday.
"And just the way they go about footy, but more importantly, life and the balance they have and the people Geelong breeds โ that's what's drawn me there the most.
"The footy stuff is always amazing, and I suppose it's a lot of people's No.1 thing.
"But (for me) it's more the type of people within the four walls.
"It's a privilege to be able to get to know them, and hopefully, I can add something to what is already an exciting list."
The move was fuelled with angst and anxiety from the get-go by both the Cats and Dogs - like their names suggest - not seeing eye to eye on the potential deal.
Geelong wouldn't budge on Pick 17 as a central aspect of the trade, with fears creeping into Smith's mind about waiting until next month's draft to find a new home.
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"I went for a nice long walk. I was at the park when it went through ... watching the sunset, which was nice," Smith said.
"Left it to the last minute, but it was all good."
Smith is now ready to put the past behind him and start afresh.
"I'm fully fit now, so fully ready to go," he said.
"I'm very excited for when day one of pre-season rolls around, I'm itching for it."
He notched up 103 games for the Bulldogs and played a key role in the club's run to the 2021 Grand Final.
