Bailey Smith in the Big V? It’s likely to happen

1 month ago 17

Star Geelong midfielder Bailey Smith is likely to be added to the Victorian team to play Western Australia in a fortnight.

After an outstanding and controversial first season with the Cats in 2025, including finishing third in the Brownlow Medal and earning All Australian selection, the 25-year-old looms as a natural addition to the 21-man squad already named.

Bailey Smith is likely to join Victorian coach Chris Scott in representing the Big V on February 14.

Smith and Fremantle’s Andrew Brayshaw are the only two players eligible to be selected for Victoria who finished in the top 10 of the Brownlow count not yet named in the squad.

Winner Matt Rowell, runner-up Nick Daicos, state captain Marcus Bontempelli, Noah Anderson, Caleb Serong and Max Gawn are all in the squad.

The selectors always planned to add some big names to the squad late, and also anticipated replacements would be needed for players already named who were injured in the lead-up to the game.

Giants’ captain Toby Greene is potentially unavailable as he slowly builds up his fitness towards the opening round because of soreness in his glutes.

Giants captain is in doubt for the State of Origin match after being selected for Victoria

Melbourne skipper Max Gawn expects to have recovered from a finger injury in time to play in the sold-out match at Optus Stadium on February 14.

Gawn has been wearing a brace on his finger and running laps at training, but is confident he will take on West Australian rucking duo Darcy Cameron and Luke Jackson.

Newly named Hawthorn co-captain Jai Newcombe, Giants midfielder Finn Callaghan, Collingwood forward Jamie Elliott and the Western Bulldogs’ Bailey Dale are also likely to have come under consideration.

Hawthorn defender Josh Battle said a group chat had been set up among his Victorian teammates, and he expected there to be feeling in the game after the group spends time preparing for the match under dual premiership coach Chris Scott.

Victorian squad (so far) to play Western Australiaat Optus Stadium on Saturday, Febreuary 14:

Noah Anderson, Zak Butters, Marcus Bontempelli (c), Jeremy Cameron, Nick Daicos, Sam Darcy, Max Gawn, Toby Greene, Max Holmes, Hugh McCluggage, Matt Rowell, Jack Sinclair, Tom Stewart, Jacob Weitering, Lachie Ash, Josh Battle, Patrick Dangerfield, Blake Hardwick, Zach Merrett, Ed Richards, Caleb Serong.

“We spend a week together and do a training session and a bit of bonding stuff and then obviously play together,” Battle said.

It is the first time a State of Origin match has been state versus state since Victorian played South Australia in 1999. Victoria has played against an All-Star team in the two matches this century.

Victoria and Western Australia played in the first State of Origin match in 1977 but have not competed against each other since 1992, the first season a club outside Victoria won the VFL/AFL premiership.

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