I can still remember both nights clearly – they were sleepless. The two nights before playing against the Bulldogs and then the Demons, both former clubs of mine, felt like an eternity.

These games are some of the toughest to play, no matter how much backing you have from your current teammates and coaches. The emotional battle is the first one you’ve got to win.

Bailey Smith (right) will play his first game against his former club, the Western Bulldogs, coached by Luke Beveridge.Credit: Stephen Kiprillis

You lie there wondering: will my old teammates be hostile? Will I cop a cheap shot or a few sharp words? What if I don’t play well? Then there’s the pre-game moment – when you see familiar faces: former teammates, fans, club staff. These are people you’ve shared years with.

And as the bounce approaches, those shared memories start flooding back, uninvited.

Leaving a club is never simple. It’s like ending a long-term relationship. Some exits feel like break-ups filled with resentment, some are mutual and respectful, others are just about chasing something new. But no matter the reason, there’s often still a real love and respect for the place and people you left behind.

On Thursday, Bailey Smith walks that same emotional path, facing his old side for the first time. And what a build-up it’s been.

The lead-up to these games is intense. Journalists pick apart every angle – just as I’m doing now. Old photos, quotes, and memories get dragged up and recycled. Whether the player wants it or not, the “revenge game” narrative kicks in.

For Smith, this has been a month in the making – ever since his post-match interview in round eight sparked public responses from his former captain Marcus Bontempelli and coach Luke Beveridge. It’s left fans and players alike poised for the clash they’ve been waiting for.

Playing against your old club stirs up a storm of emotions: old friendships, unfinished business, and the strange discomfort of lining up against people you used to train, laugh and go to battle with every week. Even a well-meaning text from an........

© The Sydney Morning Herald