GEELONG recruit Bailey Smith will play his first game for the Cats in next Thursday night's Opening Round fixture against Brisbane at the Gabba, despite sitting out the AAMI Community Series due to knee soreness.
The 24-year-old starred in his first game at any level in 547 days last Monday in a match sim against Hawthorn at GMHBA Stadium, after missing all of 2024 due to a knee reconstruction before seeking a trade down the highway from the Western Bulldogs.
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"He will definitely play," Geelong assistant coach Steven King said on Tuesday night after the AAMI Community Series loss to Essendon.
"He tweaked his knee a little bit, but it was very minor. He was sitting up there tonight going 'I could have played'.
"We just thought he has missed so much footy, got through really well against Hawthorn last week. Let's just give him two or three really good sessions ahead of Brisbane, so he will definitely play."
Geelong's other off-season acquisition – Jack Martin – banked more minutes in the VFL curtain-raiser against Essendon to put his hand up for selection.
The 30-year-old joined a third club as a delisted free agent in November after being restricted to just three games due to injuries in his final season at Princes Park.
King said Martin is pushing to be picked in Opening Round but the Cats are determined to set the West Australian up to succeed this year after being limited to 54 games in his five seasons at Carlton.
"He is very close," King said.
"You see what he does at training and in glimpses at the moment and it is high class. He is a very talented player, he is hard, he is smart.
"We want to get him in the team, but we want him to be there when the whips are cracking at the right time of the year.
"We'll make sure we don't set Jack up to come in and just have an impact for a week; we want it to be sustained. We're not going to be rushed just because it is Opening Round or round one. He is building really nicely."
First-round pick Isaac Kako stole the show at GMHBA Stadium on Tuesday night, slotting four goals to put the finishing touches on his maiden pre-season in the AFL, ahead of an expected debut against Gold Coast next Saturday.
Bombers assistant coach Daniel Giansiracusa said the 2024 pick No.13 was rewarded on the scoreboard for his pressure at ground level, during a performance where the next generation academy product combined with young spearhead Nate Caddy for seven goals.
“It is obviously really exciting. We’ve been able to see him for more than just the pre-season because he is an NGA product,” Giansiracusa said on Tuesday night.
“The good thing is he is a hard worker and that’s coming out on the field.
“We’re not trying to put too much pressure on him. As a small forward, you can have days where you get on the end of the footy, but there are also days where it doesn’t quite work for you.
“We’re encouraging him to bring that pressure. We think he'll keep getting the rewards if he brings that.”
