He also played with Perth in the West Australian National Football League (WANFL).

Bailey was a defender and had two stints with Carlton, the first started in 1941 when he came over from Perth on a war permit.

He did not play in 1943 and 1944 due to wartime commitments[2] and he returned to Perth in 1945 and won a Sandover Medal that season.

He played in the back pocket in the 1947 VFL Grand Final and ended up in the premiership team with his side downing Essendon by one point.

He spent the final years of his career at Perth, including a stint as coach, to finish with a total of 110 games for the club and is a member of their official 'Team of the Century'.