Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge insists he isn't bothered by what might have been as he watches Bailey Smith pull together a career-best AFL season with his new club.
Smith has lit up the competition with Geelong this year, starring alongside fellow speedster Max Holmes in Chris Scott's revamped engine room.
The 24-year-old is averaging personal best numbers for disposals (30.8), contested possessions (10.5), tackles (5.9) and clearances (4.8) in his new colours.
But as Smith's first encounter with the Bulldogs since his high-profile exit looms at GMHBA Stadium next Thursday night, Beveridge isn't interested in mulling an alternate universe where the midfielder stayed at Whitten Oval.
"I don't have moments at all," Beveridge said on Friday.
"As Bailey will tell you, he's a complex individual.
"And with the combination of things that happened in the two years prior to him exiting our football club, I think he just wanted a fresh start.
"That was his prerogative, we understood it and everyone's comfortable with it."
Smith set the tone for an explosive reunion earlier this month when he took an unprompted swipe at the Bulldogs for playing in front of a tiny crowd in Ballarat while he shone in an MCG blockbuster against Collingwood.
It brought about a response from Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli, who said it was nice to know the Dogs are still on Smith's mind.
Bontempelli also poked fun at Smith twice being fined by the AFL for flipping the bird at rival supporters while in Cats colours.
On the field, the Bulldogs have put Smith's departure behind them and grown their midfield depth, setting themselves up for a finals tilt.
The midfield brigade, led by the experienced Bontempelli and Tom Liberatore, has been re-energised by the rise of Ed Richards and Joel Freijah, among others, as well as the arrival of Matt Kennedy.
"The evolution of our team and our aspirations to be the best, we're pretty comfortable with our trajectory at the moment," Beveridge said.
"And I'm sure Geelong's really happy with the way Bailey's going on the field. That's really important.
"I'm really happy personally that his well with himself and he's playing good footy.
"But there's no ongoing considerations around what could've been."
Smith sat out his final season at the Bulldogs in 2024 after sustaining a serious knee injury, before requesting a trade last October.
A four-club deal was eventually struck with Carlton and St Kilda, landing the Bulldogs pick 17 and Kennedy while Smith and Jack Macrae exited.
"There wasn't any negativity around the separation from my point of view and the club's point of view," Beveridge said.
"That all happened pretty amicably regardless of the conjecture over 'was the pick low enough' and all that sort of stuff.
"That's probably something people will continue to talk about."
