Add Category![Geelong Cats First Training + Bailey Smith](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1280 720"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Bailey Smith trains with the Geelong Cats for the first time. Picture: Alison Wynd
Geelong Cats star recruit Bailey Smith splashed $4m on a Surf Coast home before officially crossing to Kardinia Park.
Smith secured an almost 6ha property near Torquay in a deal inked during the AFL finals series.
The Western Bulldogs were eliminated in the first week of the finals race by a rampant Hawthorn before Smith, 23, who missed the season after suffering an ACL injury at training in December 2023, moved on the Surf Coast home.
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Bailey Smith has bought this property near Torquay.
Henning Property Geelong buyers advocate John O’Brien helped Smith find a home in the region.
The four-bedroom home is nestled amid landscaped gardens and bushland in the Surf Coast hinterland, just 10 minutes from the beach but 30 minutes from GMHBA Stadium.
It’s a secluded residence surrounded with resort-style outdoor features such as an in-ground pool with a pool house and an in-ground trampoline.
He’s not the first Cat lured to a lifestyle outside of the city, with skipper Patrick Dangerfield building in his home town of Moggs Creek, while Jeremy Cameron followed retired forward Tom Hawkins and ruck Rhys Stanley onto farming properties in the hinterland surrounding Geelong and the Surf Coast.
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Cotton On x Bailey Smith. Picture: Rob Tennent/Instagram
Buyers advocate John O’Brien and Bailey Smith. Picture: Instagram
Smith has commercial connections to North Geelong headquartered retail giant Cotton On, modelling and designing his own clothing line with the business.
Smith started training with Geelong last week and joined first-to-five year players on a community camp before joining the entire group for the first time at Deakin University on Monday.
He trained separately but showed his trademark running power in one full ground drill when he delivered a kick, received the handball, spotted up another target and then motored down the field to provide an option.
Smith was pick seven in the 2018 AFL draft.