Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith to overlook 2024 AFL season after struggling ACL damage in coaching

Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith is ready to overlook all the 2024 AFL season after sustaining a severe knee damage at coaching.

The 23-year-old midfielder was harm halfway by way of a coaching session on Wednesday, with scans confirming harm to an anterior cruciate ligament.

“We’re all extraordinarily disillusioned for Bailey and empathise with him drastically,” Bulldogs soccer director Chris Grant stated.

“Your complete membership will rally round him throughout this tough time as he begins his rehab journey.”

Smith is out of contract on the finish of 2024 and has been the topic of hypothesis a couple of transfer away from the Bulldogs.

Hawthorn and Geelong have been most strongly linked to the midfielder, who endured a troublesome run of type halfway by way of 2023.

It sparked fierce exterior criticism and a robust defence from Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge.

Smith had struggled to interrupt right into a star-studded midfield boasting prolific ball-winners Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore, Adam Treloar and Jack Macrae.

Smith not too long ago linked up with Collingwood star Nick Daicos in america and is without doubt one of the most marketable figures within the AFL, boasting an Instagram following of greater than 340,000.

He has a robust connection to youthful followers, having beforehand spoken about his psychological well being battles within the highlight.

Darcy commits long-term to Freo

In the meantime in WA, Fremantle have fought off sturdy curiosity in Sean Darcy from rival AFL golf equipment, signing the ruck star to a six-year contract extension.

Victorian product Darcy had been within the sights of golf equipment in his dwelling state, most notably Geelong, and would have been a free agent on the finish of subsequent yr.

However the 25-year-old has dedicated his long-term future to the Dockers with a deal that runs by way of till the top of 2030.

Fremantle missed the finals final season — a poor consequence contemplating their semi-final look a yr earlier — however Darcy is worked up by the membership’s future.

“We simply must get caught into it and I can not look forward to the season to begin,” he stated.

“I’ve obtained full perception in our staff, our checklist and what we’re constructing and every part going ahead.

“We had a little bit of a disappointing yr final season and we’re not shying away from it.

“Everyone seems to be on board that we must be higher, we have to enhance and we have to enhance shortly.

“We’re making an attempt to get one of the best out of one another and we’re working arduous day-after-day to push one another, so it is actually thrilling.”

AAP