‘Under big-time scrutiny’: Queries on Bulldog’s third-party deal

Bailey Smith dropped a bomb on his team, now the AFL’s biggest social media star could be under the microscope as a trade plays out.

Bailey Smith / Tom Barrass

If Geelong lands Bailey Smith as widely expected, it may just prick the ears of the AFL.

Meanwhile, the trade details which would see star Eagle Tom Barrass land at Hawthorn have been revealed

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BAZLENKA’S COTTON ON DEAL PRICKS EARS

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

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.

Geelong’s major sponsor, Cotton On, has strong links to Smith which has pricked the ears of league officials.

The AFL will be keeping close tabs on the trade. Pic: Michael Klein

“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 began on Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.

“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.

“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.”

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

“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.

BARRASS TRADE DETAILS REVEALED

West Coast Eagles superstar Tom Barrass has requested a trade to Hawthorn, but how will a deal get done?

According to the Herald Sun’s Jay Clark, Hawthorn will need to give up two first round picks to secure the star Eagles defender.

“They want two first round picks the Eagles. I know that sounds like a lot for a 28-year-old key defender, he’s going to be 29 by the start of next season, but the Hawks are in a tricky position here for two reasons,” Clark told Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle.

“A, he’s contracted which gives West Coast the upper hand and B, because of the Hawks’ rise their first-round picks keep shuffling back. By the time we get the Academy picks, the father-son, the free agency compensation, that could slide right back to 18, 19, 20 plus potentially,” he said.

Barrass wants to change his wings. (Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“That on its own we know is not going to satisfy West Coast for Tom Barrass who is one of the best key defenders in the competition.

“This is what’s going to happen. West Coast is going to ask for two first round picks. The Hawks’ first this year and their first next year and then potentially give a second round back. Hawthorn’s first round pick next year essentially becomes West Coast’s second round pick which will be early in the 20s, a bit of a pick slide but the part which will irk Hawthorn fans and Hawthorn list management chiefs is two first round picks, that’s a lot on the surface. Optically that’s good for West Coast because he’s a contracted player.”

Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph though the trade was too much from a Hawthorn perspective.

“It’s too much because West Coast want him off their books. They want to get into the draft early on and Hawthorn’s desperate for him and they’ve got players like Calsher Dear in the 50s, Nick Watson’s going to be a gun, and they brought in players like Ginnivan and that deal itself is going to neutralize,” he said.

“So, both sides will have leverage, if you’re Hawthorn you’re getting that deal done because as much as we all love Sam Frost, you’re bringing in this interceptor that turns you into an even better and maybe the best defence in the competition.”

Originally published as ‘Under big-time scrutiny’: Queries on Bulldog’s third-party deal