Geelong Cats star Bailey Smith has spoken in detail about his burning desire to become a father – and explained why he believes Australia doesn’t produce any celebrities.
Smith, 25, revealed he is very keen to have children, with his passion for starting a family having an impact on him every day.
‘I weirdly wanna have kids – not now, but I think that’s what drives me a lot, is thinking about my family,’ Smith told Channel Seven.
‘I suppose the masculine nature to want to provide and care for someone bigger than myself, and … create a family, and that’s what sort of drives me each day, weirdly.
‘I’ve always thought about it since I was 18.
‘Like, why are you thinking about kids then? That’s always driven me to be a better person and work harder.’
Bailey Smith (pictured) is so keen to have a family that he says the drive to become a father is what drives him every day
Smith (pictured) called his passion for having kids ‘weird’ because he’s been thinking about it ever since he was 18
‘I don’t want to tell my kid to act a certain way, knowing I didn’t,’ Smith continued.
The 25-year-old has enjoyed a successful footy career up to this point, but has also been embroiled in several controversies.
Following the Cats’ 2025 grand final loss, Smith was blasted for Instagram posts he made at the club’s Mad Monday celebration.
He posted a shot showing him being embraced by teammate Patrick Dangerfield with a caption referencing the movie Brokeback Mountain, and also said journalist Caroline Wilson had ‘never looked better’ when another teammate arrived dressed as her.
Geelong later apologised for the ‘inappropriate’ posts.
The footy star was also criticised after he verbally abused a veteran News Corp photographer at an open training session last season.
Despite this, Smith is using family, and the idea of becoming a father in the near future, to help guide him in his life.
‘Thinking about someone bigger than yourself, even if they’re there or not, is a tool I use to sort of motivate me,’ he said.
The 25-year-old (pictured) is seen as one of the game’s most recognisable faces not just for his play on the field, but for his controversies off the park
Smith (pictured) has carved out an impressive footy career since breaking into the AFL back in 2019 with the Western Bulldogs
‘I want to work on all my issues so I can be the best father I can be.’
Smith has also opened up about his fame and notoriety, revealing he doesn’t consider himself a celebrity.
‘You’re just a public figure. You’re like a C-list celebrity,’ Smith claimed.
‘You don’t have the benefits of an A-grade one. It’s a funny spot. I don’t think there’s any celebrities in Australia. You’re just a public figure.
‘It’s a tricky spot. One that I’m grateful for. But I think I manage it really well.’
Smith has played 140 AFL matches since making his debut for the Western Bulldogs in 2019.
He made headlines last year when he revealed he’d spent four weeks in a psychiatric ward after suffering an injury that threatened to derail his career.
