Geelong senior coach Chris Scott has confirmed that Bailey Smith will be available for the Cats' blockbuster qualifying final against Brisbane on Friday night, despite the superstar recruit's presence not featuring strongly in the group's main training on Thursday.
Scott clarified light-heartedly that Smith was simply avoiding the media during their allotted 15 minutes of vision opportunity, but stated there is no concern for the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year.
"No concern. He just tries to avoid you guys as much as possible," Scott told media on Thursday.
"Except when he doesn't, so it's a bit hard to work out. But I didn't see you guys out there either, and I'm fine."
Smith entered the limelight last week after admitting at the AFL Awards night that he spent time in a psych ward last year while battling depression and anxiety, spotlighting an increasingly important issue in the AFL landscape.
Scott spoke of how far Smith has come since arriving at Kardinia Park, as he has rapidly become one of the AFL's most dominant midfielders.
"I don't subscribe to the theory that everyone should feel compelled to talk about their deepest, darkest secrets or their sexuality for that matter," Scott said.
"But if they choose to, then that's great. We should be open enough to at least listen to it.
"What I do have a strong opinion on is how proud I am, and we are, of the journey that he's been on.
"It's only it's been less than a year with us, but he's just been outstanding in every way.
"We knew we were getting a personality, so he's ticked that box, but it is interesting to the rest of the world to hear about some of the things that he's had to endure that we've known about for a long time.”
