Bailey Smith’s recent revelation that he spent four weeks in a psychiatric ward last year came as a shock to the AFL world, but not his closest colleagues.
The story Smith told at the AFL Awards last week was not the tightly held secret it appeared to be when he shocked guests on the night.
It was old news to Geelong teammates, including Max Holmes, who was told about the psych ward stay a year earlier when Smith confided in him at his parents’ house.
‘He was really open about all the things he’s been through in his life,’ Holmes said.
‘He’s in the spotlight a lot, so that stuff’s hard, and it was really brave of him the other day to talk about that stuff.’
Smith’s surging celebrity status in the AFL, along with a history of indiscretions, including an admission of possession of a white powder, had many doubting whether he would fit in at Geelong after leaving the Western Bulldogs at the end of 2024.
Geelong star Bailey Smith opened up to his new teammates about his mental health well before telling the AFL public
Smith cuts a fit figure at training in what’s been a career-best year at Geelong – and a huge year for his love life, as well
Smith (pictured playing for Geelong against Richmond this year) is one of the favourites to take out the Brownlow Medal later this month
Smith spoke of his mental health difficulties at the All-Australian awards last week
But Smith put everything on the table to his new teammates, including vice-captain Tom Stewart, before last year’s trade from the Bulldogs was done.
‘That was part of him thinking that we were concerned with some of the off-field antics, which wasn’t the case anyway, but he was really keen to speak to us about what he’s been through and how he’s working towards it going forward,’ Holmes said.
Last week Smith revealed he had struggled with the mental impact of an ACL injury and checked himself into a psych ward after taking some time off in Europe.
‘It was about a year ago I got out of a psych ward, I was in Epworth Camberwell for like four weeks,’ Smith said.
‘I got a couple of hours out a day, and I spent that sort of training and I went through a really dark time.
‘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.’
Smith walked into Stewart’s house not long after treatment and told him what he revealed to the AFL world a week ago.
‘We had a coffee and he was as brutally honest there and then with me as he was in front of the entire audience last Thursday night,’ he said.
Bailey Smith was spotted on a Gold Coast date with influencer Tammy Hembrow (pictured) shortly before his amazing reveal when he was named to the All Australian team
The pair confirmed their relationship on social media last week with this photo
Hembrow is easily Smith’s highest-profile romance, with fans waiting to see whether she’ll attend the Brownlow Medal ceremony with him on September 22
‘I don’t think this is a reflection of where he’s at now. I think the open honesty that he showed was in the past and he’s put a lot of work into that space. He came down here with this insatiable appetite to work.’
Smith shared the AFL Coaches Association award for Player of the Year with Noah Anderson last week and has averaged a career-best 31.7 disposals this season.
Holmes is another Cat having a career year and he gave plenty of credit to Smith for his surge in form.
‘At the start of the year, especially considering I had [last year] a bit of a breakout year, I put a lot of expectation on myself this year and I think that was really eased by the fact that Bailey went well and I felt like it was less necessary for me to play out of my boots,’ he said.
Last August, Smith split with his girlfriend of two years, Gemma Dawkins, but he has recently struck up a new relationship with Gold Coast influencer Tammy Hembrow.
The Geelong midfielder and the fitness influencer shared a tender moment from a date just 24 hours after telling his story at the All-Australian awards, with Smith’s hand resting on Hembrow’s leg as they dined at acclaimed restaurant Entrecôte in Prahran.
Geelong, who are favourites to win the premiership, haven’t beaten a top-eight side since their win over Gold Coast in round 13, which led Smith to say last week that their run to September footy was ‘easy’ due to the quality of the teams they played late in the year.
Smith’s memorable game against the Swans in the second-last round, where he had 30 disposals, came in the midst of increasing speculation around his romance with Hembrow, who has 17million Instagram followers.
Stewart said he and Smith were ‘polar opposites’ while Holmes said Smith operated in a different world.
‘He’s living that celebrity life a little bit, but he’s able to manage that and his footy very well.’ Holmes said.
‘What he’s doing off the field…if it’s not affecting him on the field, it’s happy days.’
