‘Unusual’ Bailey Smith photo reignites AFL trade conspiracy theory

Bailey Smith is certain to move AFL clubs this off-season, but a photo taken at last weekend’s MCG blockbuster has raised a few eyebrows.

Bailey Smith’s move from the Western Bulldogs to Geelong appears inevitable, but a sight during preliminary final weekend raised more than a few eyebrows.

The Bulldogs recently confirmed Smith would be seeking a trade away from the club this off-season, with Geelong widely considered the frontrunner for his services.

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Smith has proven to be one of the competition’s most damaging young midfielders when fit and firing but hasn’t been seen for over a year after rupturing his ACL.

His form for the Bulldogs in the 2021 finals series elevated him to one of the best young players in the AFL, while his popularity on social media knows no bounds.

Smith is out of contract at the end of this season, but the sight of him sitting in Geelong’s camp in the MCG crowd for last weekend’s preliminary final against Brisbane has reportedly ruffled some feathers.

The 23-year-old was spotted sitting next to a founder of clothing brand Cotton On, and in the same area of retiring Cats forward Tom Hawkins.

Smith is an ambassador for Cotton On, which is Geelong’s major sponsor.

Bailey Smith will be the biggest name to move clubs this off-season. Photo: Instagram.

Bailey Smith in the crowd at the Geelong vs Brisbane prelim final. Photo: Ch 9.

Veteran journalist Caroline Wilson said on Nine’s Footy Classified on Tuesday: “What’s your view of Bailey Smith watching the game with the Geelong camp?

“It didn’t go down too well with the Western Bulldogs when this photo appeared on social media.

“There’s Bailey there, there’s Tom Hawkins in the background.

“He’s sitting with family members of Ash Hardwick, one of the co-owners of Cotton On, a major sponsor at Geelong. Bailey Smith of course is a Cotton On ambassador.

“There’s no formal deal yet between Bailey Smith and Geelong, but it was unusual.”

Matthew Lloyd replied: “It is unusual but to me his head has been with them for 12 to 18 months, however long.

“It doesn’t surprise me because it seems he’s known he’s been leaving for a long time.”

Wilson added: “Geelong are lucky to have that Cotton On deal aren’t they, it’s been good for them.”

Smith appears certain to join the Cats. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Smith’s links to Cotton On has pricked the ears of league officials, with heightened scrutiny expected on his imminent move to Geelong.

“The AFL is going to monitor this potential deal with a fine-tooth comb because as we know, there are clubs that are concerned – I’ll throw this, the Chris Judd-Visy deal is floating in the background here – because Bailey Smith is an ambassador for Cotton On and has been since 2022,” Herald Sun journalist Scott Gullan said Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle earlier this month.

“Cotton On are the major sponsor at Geelong, you’re allowed to have third party deals, but the intricacies of how this is going to lob is going to be under the scrutiny, big time, by the AFL,” he said.

The Midweek Tackle panel used Carlton’s deal with Chris Judd and Visy, reportedly worth $200,000 as an example of something that wouldn’t be able to occur between Smith, Geelong and Cotton On.

“The rules are much more rigid for the ASA’s and the third-party deals so basically it means tested. If a sponsor is going to pay $100,000 it can’t be for the three or five or seven footy clinics like it used to be,” Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph said.

“Basically, you can’t rort the system, it’s got to be $100,000 in real value but here’s the interesting thing. Bailey Smith’s a brand, he’s a social media influencer … How do you put a figure on that or how many T-shirts you think he might be able to potentially sell?” Ralph asked.

Smith’s become the AFL’s biggest social media star. Photo by Michael Klein.

“This is a legitimate relationship, it started because of his social media, they wanted to get their brand out there. It wasn’t started to get him to Geelong, he was a Bulldogs star then.”

“Last year he’s had his own brand, he’s designed his own fashion wear, so this is a legitimate relationship, but the flip side is, Cotton On’s big Geelong,” Gullan replied.

“I think the issue would be if when he signs at Geelong as we expect, if his Cotton On deal suddenly crept up a couple hundred … that’s when the sirens would go off and the floodlights would go off.”

“They want to see consistency in previous earnings compared to what he will earn under new arrangements at Geelong,” colleague Jay Clark replied.

Smith is seeking a fresh start and more inside midfield time, after a tough period at the Bulldogs, where he has rehabbed a knee injury in the past year and been forced to play on the outside for large parts of his AFL career.

Originally published as ‘Unusual’ Bailey Smith photo reignites AFL trade conspiracy theory