BAILEY Smith had to wait until half an hour before the trade deadline to seal his move last October, but in the space of 30 minutes of February football, Geelong's box-office recruit showed signs of his game-breaking best on Monday. 

Wearing the famous No.3 guernsey and a white headband, Smith slotted straight into Chris Scott's midfield mix in his first game at any level since round 23, 2023, dominating the first quarter at GMHBA Stadium before sitting out most of the second half of the match simulation against Hawthorn.

Smith missed all of his final season at the Western Bulldogs due to a knee reconstruction, before moving down the highway in a four-club trade that also involved Matt Kennedy and Jack Macrae.

The 24-year-old burst up and down the wing of his new home ground, before swapping inside for short stints, linking up three times in one play before finding a target inside 50 in a positive start to life in the hoops.

Mercurial forward Ollie Henry burst to life after half-time, slotting four second-half goals to lead the Cats to a 15.16 (106) to 13.8 (86) win. 

Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield played only the first half and then ran sprints at half-time, before veteran midfielder Mitch Duncan entered the game for the second half. 

Mabior Chol and Henry injected life into the scratch match in the third quarter, kicking two goals each to entertain a decent crowd of a few thousand on a Monday afternoon. 

Gryan Miers' devasting right foot inside 50 was on display at Kardinia Park, as it has been since he broke Jason Akermanis' goal assists record in 2023, while Brad Close finished with three goals in his signature long-sleeved No.45 guernsey.

Geelong hosts Essendon at GMHBA Stadium in the AAMI Community Series next Tuesday. 

Young guns

Former first-round pick Connor O'Sullivan showed off the progress he has made this summer, showcasing his intercept marking prowess behind the ball as the 19-year-old hunts an Opening Round spot down back against Brisbane. Young ruckman Mitch Edwards produced some decent moments. Will McCabe and Bodie Ryan only played limited minutes in the last quarter, but both caught the eye late. 

GEELONG           3.8     6.13     10.14     15.16   (106)
HAWTHORN       2.2      5.3       10.6       13.8     (86)

GOALS
Geelong: O.Henry 4, Close 3, Cameron 2, Neale 2, O'Sullivan, Holmes, Miers, Wiltshire
Hawthorn: Maginness 2, Day 2, Chol 2, Gunston, Newcombe, Weddle, Morrison, Reeves, Ramsden, Hardwick