You would be hard-pressed to find a better player in the competition right now than Bailey Smith. 

Any observer of this great game would understand his elite running capacity, his ability to find space and accumulate high disposal numbers every time he steps onto the field, something that has been a trademark of his game since the moment he entered the league. 

But there has been something slightly different about Bailey Smith in 2026, and that has been his ability to utilise those disposals and have a damaging effect on the game offensively for Geelong. 

It was on full display again during Thursday night's brilliant victory over Brisbane, as the star on-baller collected a game-high 34 disposals but he was also able to impact the scoreboard, kicking two goals of his own and registering 12 score involvements. 

With another staggering stat line and a big win for the club under his belt, Smith told Cats Media that it was a crucial victory as Geelong looks to solidify their spot on the ladder with an intriguing run of games upcoming. 

"Yeah it was a good win, I think it sets us up in terms of the ladder and with the fixture we have got ahead," Smith said. 

"We have got a hard run with the Swans next week, so happy to get that one under the belt.

"Ultimately, they got us in the Grand Final last year so it is good to beat them in season, but I want to get them in September."

Thursday night marked the eighth time in 10 games this year that Smith has collected 30 disposals or more, helping to lead Geelong to a stunning victory over the reigning premiers on their home ground. 

The Cats raced out of the blocks with a brilliant first quarter, but had to withstand a surge from the Lions in the second term before wrestling back the momentum just before half time. 

The decisive move either side of the main break came from Geelong, who kicked a run of seven unanswered goals to break the game open, led by an inspiring burst from Shaun Mannagh in the third term. 

Smith provided insight into what the Cats were focusing on throughout the night, and the changes they made to help wrestle back the ascendancy. 

"We just had to break their first layer of pressure and not blaze away," Smith said. 

"Obviously Harris Andrews down the line looks quite threatening with his intercepting, so finding those marks and handballs was important.

"We probably overused it a little bit at times, but it takes their drop off defenders out of it."