By Ed Carruthers,Editor

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Call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

By ED CARRUTHERS, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR, AUSTRALIA

Published: 14:02 BST, 23 September 2025 | Updated: 14:03 BST, 23 September 2025

As Bailey Smith prepares to play in this Saturday’s AFL Grand Final, he has been reflecting on one of the toughest periods of his life, in which he experienced feelings of ‘doubt, anxiety and loneliness’.

While he missed out on winning a Brownlow Medal at the Crown Palladium on Monday night, the 24-year-old has enjoyed an excellent season with his new side, Geelong, bouncing back after suffering a torn ACL during a training session with his former side, the Western Bulldogs in December 2023.

He went on to miss the entire 2024 AFL season, but has bounced back with a bang this year, finishing third in this year’s Brownlow Medal race with 29 votes. His brilliance, averaging over 31 disposals and five tackles a game, has helped the Cats reach this year’s AFL Grand Final and clinch his first premiership title.

But the road to this weekend’s Grand Final hasn’t been easy for Smith, who opened up in August about how he struggled mentally following the injury, spending four weeks in a psychological ward in 2024.

Smith added that he was ‘super grateful to be on the other side of’ that experience, and on Tuesday, he took to Instagram to reflect further on how he has come through such a turbulent period.

Footy star Bailey Smith has opened up on one of the toughest experiences of his life after he suffered an ACL injury in 2023

On Monday night, Smith stole the show with his speed dealer sunglaasses at the Brownlow Medal presentation

But on Tuesday, he published a video of himself training on his own while he was completing rehabilitation for the ACL injury that sidelined him for the entirety of the 2024 season

The 24-year-old published a video of himself appearing to train on his own back in August 2024.

He is seen running up and down, performing several drills with a bag of balls and a set of cones laid out on the ground.

The Geelong midfielder, who has scored eight goals for the Cats this season, then added an overlaid caption that began with the words: ‘Rogue reflection. [This] video’s from August 2024.’

He added: ‘The loneliest period of my life.

‘Seven months, 1 week post ACL surgery. No motivation.’

Heartbreakingly, he delved into that period of his recovery further, making several tough admissions.

‘Every session on my own. *****s writing me off. So much doubt and anxiety about the future.

‘But just kept on swimmin’. Always will.

Reflecting on that period, Smith heartbreakingly stated that he had suffered from loneliness, anxiety and doubt

It came as the Cats midfielder stated that he had checked into a psychological ward back in 2024 for four weeks

His resilience can be commended. Smith has proven himself as one of the best players in the league this season, he was a standout during his side’s victory in round eight against Collingwood, and more recently had 36 touches during his side’s preliminary final victory against Hawthorn

‘See you Saturday,’ Smith added.

His resilience can be commended. Smith has proven himself as one of the best players in the league this season, he was a standout during his side’s victory in round eight against Collingwood, and more recently had 36 touches during his side’s preliminary final victory against Hawthorn.

He has been recognised for his brilliant performances this season, notably being named in this year’s All-Australian team.

But while celebrating winning a green blazer back in August at the AFL Awards night, Smith opened up on the toll the injury had on him psychologically.

‘I got a couple of hours out a day, and I spent that sort of training and I went through a really dark time,’ he added.

‘I know it’s just an injury, but until you sort of experience it, and have a sense of identity sort of taken away and some teething issues with moving clubs and outside noise… so I’m super grateful to be on the other side of it.’

He added that he had been grateful for the support of his friends, family, team-mates and manager, but had left many in the room stunned by the admissions.

Asked to delve further into the matter, he said: ‘It was obviously voluntary to go in [to the psych ward]. I still see my psych today, it helps me. Initially, I felt, not weak but emasculated a little bit, needing to reach out for help.

It also comes as he appeared to shut down rumours that he had been dating social media influencer Tammy Hembrow (pictured)

Smith did not arrive at the Brownlow Medal with his rumoured girlfriend, Hembrow, but still stole the show with his antics

‘I think I just changed my mindset from if you have an injury, you need to rehab it in the gym. If you have an injury mentally it’s just rehabbing and keeping on top of that. It’s just going to the gym for your (physical) fitness, I’m going for my mental fitness.

‘Changing my mindset around that, the word gets thrown around a lot these days — mental health — as an excuse in some cases and it’s not a sympathy ‘poor me’ thing, it’s just more to raise awareness that you can put your hand up.

‘(It was a) tough period but I wouldn’t change it for the world. It always makes sense in retrospect. Just know whatever dark period you’re going through one day it’ll make sense.’

He has since been commended for his incredible honesty.

‘That was unreal from Bailey Smith,’ the GWS Giants account wrote on X.

‘Loved it! Well done Bailey,’ one punter added.

‘The sporting world needs more people with real stories about this sort of thing. Like he says, mental health can get thrown around a lot and the message often loses some meaning. Having role models with real stories can go a long way,’ another added.

All eyes were also on Smith on Monday night, after he rocked up to the Brownlow Medal ceremony wearing a brown suit, while rocking a pair of speed dealer sunglasses.

Smith will feature for Geelong as they take on Brisbane in the AFL Grand Final this Saturday

Speculation had been mounting that the footy star could bring Tammy Hembrow with him to the awards night.

But he put talk around their rumoured relationship to bed earlier on Monday, claiming he was ‘just friends’ with the social media star.

The Cats midfielder added that he’d be bringing his jiu-jitsu instructor to the end-of-season awards night instead.

Despite Hembrow not being on his arm, Smith still stole the show, posing in his unique sunglasses with AFL CEO Andrew Dillon.

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Bailey Smith makes heartbreaking admission as he opens up on the ‘loneliest period of his life’ ahead of Saturday’s AFL Grand Final

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