”[It is sometimes] demonised going to seek professional help. It’s either weak or you are a fruit loop. It really helped me find help and understanding … you are not doing it alone. There are actually people to help you, be it through my family or professional help.”
Loading
He admitted that after the knee injury he was partying and drinking and carrying on “like an idiot”, but that was his coping mechanism. He was dreading the rehabilitation process and was uncertain whether he could get back to playing.
“I was always one step forward two steps back in terms of my mental health since I was about 16 or 17 … I was a puppet to my emotions,” Smith said.
“[I had] quite bad panic attacks, and really negative thoughts as well happening in my brain, and I was just being played by that.”
Loading
After coming back from Europe in the second half of the 2024 season and beginning to think about the next phase of his career, he decided he needed help to address his mental health challenges.
“I used to think I don’t want to go to speak to a psychologist and talk about my f—ing feelings [but] It’s not like that. I found a really good one where it was more proactive. I’m not just getting there and dumping how I feel. I used to think psychology was like that.
“We actually built a plan. It’s similar to footy where we built a plan to work on these new skills and try to level up my emotional life and my football life.
“They set up a really good plan for me.”
Smith said his move to the Surf Coast had been important for his wellbeing and his football, which he says remains the main driver in his life.
“I chose the career of footy because I love it even though it gets a bit misconstrued now. Everyone thinks I love this off-field side, the modelling side of things, everything but the game but the game itself of football [has been] my main driver,” Smith said.
Smith conceded that his behaviour during 2024 had tested relationships but his motivation to move was to take control of his life and career.
“It wasn’t a flawless year last year I wasn’t great in lots of areas of my life, but it takes you to not be great to be great in areas and get shit sorted,” Smith said.
”Sometimes the hardest work is learning to switch off and not keep working, that’s way harder,” Smith said. “It’s easy to get in the gym, easy to train, easy to keep locked in. It’s way harder to take the foot off the gas and look inward and see it and replenish and recover mentally and physically.”
“I never wanted to be the pin-up boy for talking about mental health, because you’re bound to cop backlash… But hopefully through some really unfortunate circumstances… now we’re actually having to talk about it,” Smith said.
“Reaching out and getting help — as much as your pride and that masculine nature says do it all yourself — you’ll dig yourself a deeper hole if you don’t. You’ll be surprised how many people are willing to walk through it with you.”
If you or someone you know needs support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. In the event of an emergency dial triple zero (000). Support is also available from MensLine on 1300 78 99 78.
The Real Stuff podcast featuring Bailey Smith launches on Wednesday 28 May, and is available to listen to on stuffthatmatters.com, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.