While much of the anticipation ahead of the clash centred on whether Lance Franklin could repeat the 13-goal heroics he produced when the teams met in Launceston last season, it was Bailey who stole the limelight early.
The 206cm ruckman has always been adept at winning hit-outs, but never known for booting bags of goals, having kicked a grand total of three in his 28-game career before running out against the Kangaroos.
But he promptly doubled that tally with a blistering first quarter, booting the Hawks' first three goals.
Overlooked for last year's finals after recovering from a wrist injury, it is a facet of the 26-year-old's game he is working on as he seeks to make himself unable to be dropped this time around.
"I need to get a bit more involved around the ground, take some more grabs," Bailey told AFL.com.au after the three-point win.
"It's about making sure I win the ruck contest first of all, and then getting involved around the ground.
"When I do that, I know I'm valuable to the side and I can stay in there.
"If that drops off, that's when I probably second-guess myself."
With the ruck combination of David Hale and Jarryd Roughead having been effective last season and younger talls Sam Grimley and Luke Lowden starting to press for senior opportunities, Bailey knows he must perform to hold his spot.
"It's good to string some games together now," he said.
"I'm trying to get a bit more consistent, which is probably where it's at next for me.
"I'm feeling good in the side … but I definitely feel that if I drop off at all, then I'm probably under a bit of pressure, because we've got some good young guys coming through as well.
"That's probably helped me, just to play on the edge a little bit."
Bailey has benefited from having completed a full pre-season, something that has been rare in a career rocked by three anterior cruciate ligament ruptures and last year's wrist surgery.
"I was able to do all the training over summer and work on things that I hadn't been able to before, so that was nice," he said.
"I'm feeling a bit old some days, but I'm definitely in a much better position than I was two or three years ago, so that's been really, really good."
And while the three-goal first quarter was pleasing – and a pleasant surprise for coach Clarkson – Bailey left the MCG with something to work on.
Subbed off in the third quarter with three goals still against his name as the Hawks sought to inject extra run, he'll aim for a more complete performance against Adelaide next week.
"It it was a good way to get started, but it was a bit disappointing that I couldn't go on and finish it off," he said.
