Geelong star Bailey Smith fined $1000 for flipping the bird to a fan after win over Crows

Bailey Smith was at his brilliant best against the Crows on Thursday night – but the star Cat has been fined after he leapt to the defence of Patrick Dangerfield post-match.

Geelong star Bailey Smith was hit with a $1000 fine after he was captured flipping the bird to a fan as he walked down the race after the club’s rousing victory over Adelaide.

But as Smith said on Friday morning, he was merely defending captain Patrick Dangerfield after the Cats skipper copped some sledging from a Crows fan about his time at Adelaide.

It came as Cats star Jeremy Cameron lauded the club’s culture to let quirky personalities like Smith shine at Geelong.

Smith was at his brilliant best in the game and was effusive post match about his time at Geelong after crossing from the Western Bulldogs.

But he took the gloss off that performance after being he took umbrage to a fan’s comments as the players walked down the race and gave the spectator a pair of middle-fingered salutes.

Young West Coast firebrand Harley Reid copped a $1000 fine after he twice flipped the bird to spectators recently.

Smith told Seven on Friday morning: “(It was) probably not my best moment but just walking off, getting round the fans and someone was getting stuck into Danger more than he should have. I love the back and forth between the fans and if I had my time again I shouldn’t have done it. There is only so much you can cop. I expect a fine or something but don’t talk s**t to the skipper, I guess.

“I had a chat to Laura Kane this morning explaining the incident. They allow us to say our piece. It’s a bad look, so hopefully it’s not too hefty.

“I don’t like some of the stuff being said and you want to win with grace and that wasn’t anything towards Adelaide fans, just the one bloke making an effort to get stuck into Danger. Just him at the Crows and a bit of personal stuff, but when you get into deeper details it was a bit far.”

Dangerfield said Smith’s double barreled middle-finger gesture was in fact more appropriate than the personal sledge he copped post-game.

“A bit rascalish behaviour,’’ Dangerfield said at the AFL Gather Round Business Lunch.

“Once you’re in the same colours he’s a very passionate person. It wasn’t overly appropriate - I don’t think either was the double barrel bird (but) it was probably more appropriate given what was said.

“That’s the passion of sport.

“(It was) really personal, something you’d never repeat, directed at me. I don’t know if it was an Adelaide Crows fan to be honest, I didn’t look up. There’s no point addressing it, what can you do. But Baz is 24 and I’m 35 so you have different views on the world and how you react to those sorts of things.

“It’s so important to barrack and support and shout. That’s the passion we all want but there’s a balance as well (with) some stuff that’s so far left of field that’s just not appropriate. He was just sticking up for me.”

Dangerfield said he won’t be paying Smith’s fine.

“No. I don’t know what the AFL fine is but I think it will fall into insignificance with how much he gets.... he’s going OK,’’ the Cats captain said.

Bailey Smith was at his brilliant best against the Crows. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

Cameron told this masthead post-match that while Smith was a quirky individual the club’s accepting culture allowed so many different players to flourish.

“Absolutely, we have got lots of people who are very different at the footy club and different in their own way,” he said.

“I guess Scotty (Chris Scott) and the coaches let you play that way. We want ‘OD’ (Ollie Dempsey) being flashy on the wing and leaping at absolutely everything.

“We want Bailey in there doing his thing, We want guys to get to work and do whatever it is that gets you going throughout the week but also game day as well, so I don’t know how it all comes together because we do have a lot of guys who are different through the footy club.

“Looking at Rhys Stanley here who does more farming than football, he’s got three kids.

“He’s always doing something and he doesn’t sleep but he comes in last week against Gawny (Max Gawn) and plays great footy and then tonight against another fantastic ruckmen and plays his role.”

Smith later told Seven that he was in a good place after battling with mental health issues in recent years.

“Things are good now,” he said.

“12 months ago I was a bit off with the fairies, not right in the head. Footy is the one thing, that’s what people forget, they see the outside stuff, but footy is what makes me tick. I want to outwork everyone, I want to be the best I can and hopefully win a flag with these boys.”

Geelong set up its season with a rousing victory after coming back from 30 points down to defeat Adelaide with a brilliant comeback at Adelaide Oval in front of a capacity crowd of 50,073.

Originally published as Geelong star Bailey Smith fined $1000 for flipping the bird to a fan after win over Crows