In today’s AFL Briefing, your daily wrap of footy news:
- Bailey Smith’s interaction with footy fan under investigation.
- Danger reveals Jezza’s pep talk inspired fourth-quarter surge.
Geelong’s star recruit Bailey Smith is set to come under scrutiny from the AFL for making an offensive gesture to the crowd after the Cats’ stirring victory over Adelaide on Thursday night.
Footage has emerged on social media of Smith flipping a double bird to a fan as he and his teammates left Adelaide Oval after the opening match of Gather Round.
The AFL will look at the incident on Friday, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter.
Smith can be seen high-fiving a supporter leaning over the race before responding to another fan, wearing a Crows scarf and club polo, and raising both middle fingers.
West Coast’s young star Harley Reid was fined $1000 for raising his middle finger in response to treatment from the crowd in the Eagles’ loss to Brisbane at the Gabba in round two.
Geelong skipper Patrick Dangerfield disappears down the race at Adelaide Oval with teammate Bailey Smith, who’d seconds earlier been interacting with footy fans.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Smith was among the best players on the field, amassing a game-high 35 possessions and booting a goal, in the Cats’ come-from-behind 19-point victory over the Crows.
It was Smith’s fourth game for Geelong since crossing from the Western Bulldogs in the off-season.
Pep talk fires Cats forwards to victory
Peter Ryan
With his team eight points down as he left the huddle at three-quarter-time, Cats’ forward Jeremy Cameron and his skipper Patrick Dangerfield sauntered into the forward line.
Jeremy Cameron celebrates one of his four goals against Adelaide.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Between them, the pair have a Brownlow Medal, a Coleman Medal, six club best-and-fairest awards, 12 All-Australian blazers and were teammates in the 2022 premiership.
Dangerfield took in what the laconic, occasionally distracted, always capable Cameron had to say.
“He said ‘this is what we are paid to do. This is the time to turn the game’,” Dangerfield recalled post patch.
“We are senior leaders within the team … we kicked two early and everyone else jumped on board. It was a great example of leadership from him.”
Cameron kicked the first two goals of the quarter, Dangerfield kicked the next two. Within 10 minutes, the imperious pair had put the game out of the Crows reach.
They finished with eight between them for the game as they kicked into gear as a unit inside 50 for the first time this season, leading the Cats to an impressive win, 18.11 (119) to Adelaide’s 15.10 (100).
Cameron’s performance was his best for the season. It came after he spent time on the bench in the second quarter as Geelong slipped five goals behind the Crows.
Cameron and Dangerfield are proving dangerous in front of goal for Geelong.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
Cats’ coach Chris Scott would not elaborate on what, if anything, was said during that period on the pine, but whatever happened transformed the 32-year-old.
“I don’t want to say [if anything was said] but I have got admiration for players who meet the moment,” Scott said.
Dangerfield wasn’t panicking at the state of the scoreboard as Bailey Smith, Max Holmes and Tom Atkins went to work in the middle.
“It’s not about arresting momentum and scoring five goals in five minutes,” Dangerfield said.
“We know how long the game takes, and we have experience in the right spots. Our guys don’t panic. They know the process. It’s about getting the next one, stalling momentum and then getting the next one. We feel like we can score fast.”
The 35-year-old has 11 goals so far in 2025 – already his highest tally for a season since 2020 – and is in the sort of form that has him sitting among the game’s best and most influential players again.
“I feel like I am moving well and I am lucky enough that I can play to my strengths,” Dangerfield said.
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