Geelong superstar Bailey Smith has credited his work with a psychologist to his career-best 2026 campaign, saying he played last year with a "chip on his shoulder".
Smith has been forthcoming with his personal struggles in recent years, but acknowledged his obsession with being the best footballer he could be during his first season at the Cats, even if it came at a cost.
The 2025 AFLCA joint winner revealed he has worked on his "metacognitive awareness" in a bid to become more stable as a person and a professional athlete.
“I'm a lot less emotional,” he told 7NEWS.
“I think last year, the whole year I had a chip on my shoulder; I wanted to return well and show that I still love the game and want to be one of the best.
“I think a lot of that came out of anger, weirdly, after the year I had, and resentment towards just people, the footy world, and I probably wasn't in a good place the year before that.
“I've been working really hard on, it's called metacognitive awareness — it's the notion that you're not your thoughts, you're purely an observer of them, and understanding that how I think doesn't need to be how I feel, and just learning to be more aware and curious of why I'm thinking or why I'm feeling some sort of way each day, rather than acting on it and making permanent decisions based on temporary emotions.
“That's been a big thing. It's called cognitive behavioural therapy, which I do with my psych.
“I'm trying to not be so reactive. Yes, still be emotional — I'm not emotionally numb — but just learning to be aware of the tricks your brain's trying to play on you and triggers and being reintegrated into all the media again, because I kind of had a year off of it when I did my knee. Last year I didn't handle it too well, and I don't really want to let my emotions get the better of me again with a lot of the ways I acted at times.”
Smith was one of the highest profile moves at the end of 2024, departing the Western Bulldogs after sitting the entire season out with an ACL injury.
He admitted there were things he would've done differently, but ultimately believes everything happens for a reason.
“I was still grappling with a few things of my own. I don't know, it's always an excuse,” he said.
“I probably could have been a better teammate, a few things could have gone differently. But ultimately I wouldn't change a thing because everything happens (for a reason) and leads you on a path that you find yourself grateful to be on.
EXCLUSIVE: Star Cat Bailey Smith has revealed switching off from social media has been the secret to his success this season. The 25-year-old returns against the Lions tomorrow night and sat down for a rare interview with new 7NEWS footy recruit @tommorris32. pic.twitter.com/CNz01tNKrn
— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) July 1, 2026
“I'm grateful for my time there, they ought me a lot of things from a football perspective, ‘Bont' (Marcus Bontempelli) especially.
“At the end of the day it's a business. They'll happily delist someone so who am I not to leave, and if I'm going to take my career into my own hands and not wonder ‘what if', and if I thought Geelong was the best place for me, I'd be pretty stupid not to take that opportunity.
“Especially at a time when I felt like I needed it.”
Smith returns on Thursday against Brisbane at GMHBA Stadium after battling illness in recent weeks.
He's played 14 games this year, averaging 32.3 disposals, 5.5 clearances, 5 tackles and 7.5 score involvements.
