Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge has conceded his confidence levels over Bailey Smith staying at the club have started to “wane”, with the injured midfielder yet to give any indication he will sign a new contract.
Smith is rehabbing a season-ending ACL injury and at various stages has been given time away from the club to aid his recovery that has fuelled speculation of a potential exit as a raft of potential suitors chase the 23-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season.
Having re-signed All-Australian ruckman Tim English to a five-year deal this week, after locking away tall forwards Aaron Naughton and Jamara Ugle-Hagan and with a deal imminent for rising star Sam Darcy, the lack of action with Smith has been telling.
Beveridge said there was nothing in his relationship with Smith that he needed to “fix” in order to keep him at Whitten Oval, and he didn’t feel the need to push for a decision as he wouldn’t with any players weighing up a move.
But he said the longer things went without a commitment didn’t bode well.
“I don’t feel like we need to force it if it comes out early because that’s the player’s choice, if they’d like to let the club know,” he said on Friday.
“I think there’s just too much to play out still at the end of the year, whenever that may be, and sometimes it’s just no certainty from the other end. And players might have more than one option and they’re considering things, so I don’t think players are necessarily in a position to tell their club if they are moving.
“But when a player hasn’t told you that he’s staying, then, you know, as time goes on, your confidence levels start to wane a little bit.”
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