Hunter: Bailey already a cut above

WESTERN Bulldogs players have been amazed at how quickly Bailey Smith has gone to “new levels”.

The rising star has shown no fear of stepping up in big moments this finals series, having powered his side into the grand final with seven goals in his past two finals.

Smith is only 20 and teammate Lachie Hunter was only 22 when he was part of the Bulldogs’ premiership in 2016. But seeing what Smith has done in big moments has Hunter awestruck.

“I have at times (been amazed),” Hunter said on Wednesday. “It can be incredibly daunting as a 20year-old coming into these games and you are just probably hoping to blend in …

“But he seems to have taken his game to new levels and in those moments when we needed a matchwinner, he has bobbed up.”

Smith will be one of at least 13 Bulldogs playing their first grand final. That number is set to include Latham Vandermeer, who has already completed a full training session this week and overcome hamstring tightness.

Defender Alex Keath was put to the test behind closed doors in the Dogs’ main session at Perth Stadium on Wednesday, but was also likely to take his place after missing the preliminary final

win over Port.