Bailey Smith represents Vic Metro earlier this year.Credit:Wayne Ludbey
“Is … is that Bailey?”
AFL 200 game premiership star Luke Ball held up his hand over his eyes, shielding himself from the sheeting rain as he peered across the oval.
“Yep, that’s him,” responded his brother and former Hawk Matt, who was hardly surprised.
It was pushing 5pm on a cold winter’s Saturday in Melbourne last year, approaching an hour after Xavier College had been beaten by arch rivals and flag favourites Haileybury in the APS schoolboy competition.
As coach Matt and his lieutenant Luke walked towards their cars, they spotted year 11 star Bailey Smith.
Still in his full playing kit, Bailey was running 200s.
“What are you doing, mate?” asked Luke, flanked by Matt as they reached him following a trek across the oval.
Bailey was punishing himself for a below-par performance.
“I could relate to it a little bit more,” laughed Luke, as he reflected on the standards he set himself as a junior.
Physically and athletically, he’s miles ahead.
“For Bailey, it’s always: ‘I’m not doing enough’.
“Physically and athletically, he’s miles ahead of certainly where I was or any other 17-year-old that I’ve ever seen.
“We just reassured him that the eight extra 200s might help him sleep at night but it’s not going to be the difference between him getting drafted or not.”
Sixteen months on, Smith is about to be taken in the top 10 of the national draft.
And while the November 22 date will be occupying most of Smith’s mind, it’s not the only thing happening in a busy period in the teenager’s life.
He’s midway through his year 12 exams, he’s approaching his driving test to get his P-plates and is about to turn 18.
But there will be no raging party.
“Huh? Nah, no way!” Smith exclaimed.
“I’ve never hosted a party in my life. I hate it … there’s too much pressure!”
Ironically, pressure is something all to familiar to Smith, mainly because the vast majority of it is self-driven, as was evident in the extra running after last year’s loss to Haileybury.
The food app used by Smith.
Not only is he renowned as one of the hardest trainers in this year’s draft pool, but he’s also incredibly strict on himself.
Smith plans and cooks every meal himself, intermittently fasts and has never touched a drop of alcohol – and doesn’t plan to for the entirety of his AFL career.
“I’ve never had it, it’s a mental thing, it’s just not worth it,” Smith told Fairfax Media.
“I’ve come this far, why waste it?”
“I might [try it] when I’m old. Like, really old.”
Smith wouldn’t be the only draftee who plans to stay away from the booze, but his dedication to his diet and personalised training program is unlikely to be matched.
Even during his exam period, Smith still trains twice a day, as he has done all year.
Running and skills in the morning, then study, followed by weights in the afternoon.
But, here’s the catch; he’s only allowed to eat between 2-9pm.
“I’ve always been a good eater, I’ve just become a lot better with planning out what I eat and when I eat it,” Smith said.
When Smith talks about his diet, it would make the average person feel guilty.
It doesn’t exactly get you salivating.
His current go-to meals include: egg whites and soy sauce with spinach, ham and Vita-Weats with spinach and a lot of chicken breast and green beans.
He’s even found sugar-free tomato sauce, which he sometimes allows himself to have on the side.
“It’s only 10 calories per 18-gram serve, which is good,” Smith said.
“It probably is a bit obsessive, but it’s just me doing what I love.
“I do skills and running in the morning, that burns your carb stores and then I have a coffee. I don’t like coffee but it just keeps me fresh.
“Then I study, then I eat, then I’ll hit the gym full of fuel.”
His running and skills work, usually done with his father Nick, is no walk in the park, either.
An average morning would entail three 800-metre efforts, followed by 10x400s and 10x200s.
Then it’s time to get the footy out.
It can’t be the reverse order for Smith. Skills have to follow running because then you’re doing everything “under fatigue”.
“Things like kicking goals on the run, hitting stationary targets when you’re gassed, that sort of stuff.”
Everyone tells me to tone it down. But I love it.
It’s a lifestyle that’s not only hard on Smith, but it’s taken some getting used to for his family, friends and girlfriend Charlotte.
Even when going out for family dinners, Smith will either eat before or after and simply sit at the table and make conversation.
“Everyone tells me to tone it down, because it can be pretty full-on at times. But I love it.”
In speaking to Smith, it’s nearly impossible not to be at least slightly inspired by his natural drive, let alone notice it.
In an era where so many kids are pushed too far by junior coaches or overzealous parents, Smith is simply a teenager destined to reach his maximum potential, whatever that is.
In his own words: he loves it.
When he’s not playing, training, preparing, cooking or eating, Smith can usually be found around family and friends or with his two beloved pups; golden retriever Willow and chocolate lab Bob.
And for the Sandringham Dragons captain, he’d love to begin his AFL journey in similar surroundings.
“I obviously understand that it’s a national competition and you can go anywhere, but I’d love to stay at home and I reckon I’d get the most out of myself if I did.”
Given what we know now, it seems highly unlikely that Bailey Smith won’t get the most out himself, wherever it is he ends up.
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