How Bailey Smith is on top of the footy world despite controversy and drama

Mick Malthouse hated it and his former teammates are riled up – but Geelong won’t be worried by Bailey Smith dominating headlines as long as he keeps delivering, writes Josh Barnes.

Two things trump everything else in footy – winning and money, in that order.

Despite any anguish the Western Bulldogs might feel towards Bailey Smith after his unprompted sideswipe on Saturday night, the Geelong star is ticking both of those boxes.

Never before has footy seen a magnet for publicity and social media views like Smith, who so far this year has melded stellar play with an equally high level of column inches.

On field, Smith is flying.

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No Geelong player has more coaches votes, with the mulleted one having polled maximum votes in round 1, and then ranked in the top three on four other occasions.

Stop the season now and Smith, who leads the league in metres gained, is probably in the All-Australian team.

Bailey Smith reaches to fans after the win over Collingwood. Picture: Michael Klein

Even the Cats are surprised the super-hard trainer bounced back so quickly from his knee injury.

But as always with Smith, that is only part of the complex story.

He has been fined twice for flipping the bird at the crowd, smushed a Sherrin into Hawk Karl Amon’s face and then seven words at the very end of a victorious interview with Fox Footy’s Cameron Mooney – “You are not getting that at Ballarat” – forced even the always level-headed Marcus Bontempelli to take the bait and bite back.

Bailey Smith responds to hecklers

Coaching doyen Mick Malthouse was unequivocal when he said “I don’t like it”.

“It is a front-end loader that he has dumped on the Dogs,” he told ABC Radio.

Smith seemingly does and says what he thinks without a filter, and it works for him, despite presenting as a polite guy by those who meet him in the flesh.

He is starring for a premiership contender and he is the biggest personality in the game off the field.

Smith chooses not to talk to traditional media, outside of post-match quick hits.

He thinks there is no need to grow Brand Bazlenka through the old means.

His Instagram post in response to the sudden storm tagged himself at Salty Dog Cafe in Torquay, a clear message.

It’s highly unlikely his comments would have seen a reduction in social media followers.

Even if the Dogs are somewhat aggrieved, or miffed that he wasn’t kind to a club that drafted and developed him into a star and helped the rehab of his busted knee last year, Smith is really just a cheeky 24-year-old.

He hasn’t exactly hurt anybody, outside of a bit of annoyance on Amon’s face, and instead he is growing the game in his unique way.

That brings us to the money.

The Bazlenka effect hit almost immediately when he arrived in Geelong, with social media posts notably drawing more impressions and attention than in the pre-Baz era.

Bailey Smith celebrates a goal against Carlton. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images.

The Cats have broken past 80,000 members and fans sit in the front row wearing headbands as the club sells bulk No. 3 jumpers.

Down the highway, Smith has the best approval ratings for a headbanded star since Pat Cash in the late 1980s.

All that is positive for the Cats, and surely the round 11 match will far outsell the 27,967 that attended when the Bulldogs visited GMHBA Stadium last year.

Like him or dislike him, Smith got the footy world talking about what has never been a blockbuster – the Dogs playing in Geelong.

“I can’t wait for round 11, he is going to attract some attention,” Malthouse said.

If that Thursday night turns into a ‘Get Bailey’ exercise and Luke Beveridge uses his famous powers of motivation to sink the Cats, you wonder how cheerful Chris Scott will be.

But under Scott, the club has decidedly embraced individualism and let its players be themselves.

As long as Smith keeps delivering on the field, the Cats will continue to welcome him.

The mental toll at the moment is limited to Scott answering a couple questions a week at press conferences, and teammates backing him in the press.

Right now that unique blend of publicity and performance is working in Geelong’s favour.

He loves the club and the club loves him back.

Keep averaging 30.1 disposals a game in a winning team and that will happen.

The test will come if that form drops away or the wins dry up.

For now though, the wins and the cash are in his favour.

Originally published as How Bailey Smith is on top of the footy world despite controversy and drama