Bailey Smith has capped off a remarkable debut season with the Geelong Football Club, selected on the wing in the 2025 All Australian Team at the AFL Awards on Thursday night.
The superstar midfielder receives his first All-Australian blazer, a triumphant moment in a career-best season that showcased his resilience and work ethic, making a strong return from an ACL injury that held him out in 2024.
Smith's ball-winning prowess was a feature all year, finishing with the highest disposals per game average (31.7) of any player in the competition, collecting 23 possessions or more in every match he played this season.
In his very first game in Cats colours, Smith amassed 32 disposals and nearly 700 metres gained, setting the tone for what would become a dominant campaign.
Smith would go on to finish in the top two at Geelong for tackles, inside 50's and clearances, while also ranking second in the AFL for metres gained per match (647.3), able to utilise his elite running capacity to find space and to help generate the Cats' ball movement.
Smith joins an elite group of the game’s best players and the inclusion cements his place among the AFL’s top echelon of midfielders.
With his first All-Australian blazer now secured, Smith’s focus will turn to September as Geelong continues their preparations for a blockbuster Qualifying Final against Brisbane at the MCG next Friday.
