Marcus Bontempelli claps back at former team-mate Bailey Smith with a brutal sledge after he sparked outrage over a veiled swipe at his old club
Marcus Bontempelli has fired back at his former team-mate Bailey Smith after the Geelong midfielder dished up an unprompted spray to his old club.
The 24-year-old has enjoyed a brilliant start to the 2025 season and was the Cats' best on ground on Saturday evening during their three-point win against Collingwood.
Smith amassed 30 disposals to help his side clinch their fifth win of the season in front of a raucous 80,000 fans at the MCG.
Earlier in the day, the Bulldogs sealed a huge 20.11 (131) to 5.11 (41) victory against Port Adelaide in front of less than 5,000 fans at the Mars Stadium in Ballarat. The footy ground has a reduced capacity this season while a new stand is built.
Noting that reduced capacity, Smith, who moved from the Kennel to the Cattery in the off-season, opened up on his move and simultaneously issued a veiled swipe at the Dogs.
'[I'm] very grateful to be where I am,' he said to Fox Sports.
☠️ https://t.co/MgwHeaI0K0 pic.twitter.com/K2HL3xgAtV
— David Zita (@DavidZita1) May 4, 2025
'They've welcomed me with open arms so I'm just forever in debt to this club.
'I'll keep working my arse off to repay them and I'm doing what I love doing, and that's competing regardless if we win, lose or draw. I'm just happy, can't really lose.'
He was then pressed on how good the atmosphere inside the MCG was, having played in front of 82,000 people.
'It's beautiful, mate. Not getting that at Ballarat,' Smith replied, issuing a swipe at his old club.
Despite his great performances at the start of 2025, Smith has been scrutinised for flipping the bird at fans this season.
And his former captain, Bontempelli, fired a barb back at Smith, noting the midfielder's indiscretions this season.
'Very interesting by Bailey. It's nice to know we're still on Bailey's mind,' Bontempelli said to Channel 7's Sunrise on Sunday morning.
'You know, he's still thinking about us even at another team. And, you know, in the end, there's probably a few less people down in Ballarat for him to flip the bird to.
'So maybe that's why he's a little bit disappointed.'
After Geelong's 19-point win against the Crows last month, Smith was handed a $1,000 fine for flipping his middle finger up at a spectator.
It came after the fan had appeared to berate Geelong skipper Patrick Dangerfield as the Cats walked from the field.
Smith was then seen shooting the middle finger to fans after their match against Hawthorn following a spat with Jarman Impey.
Smith, though, wasn't backing down following Bontempelli's barb.
He took to Instagram on Sunday to post a picture of himself wearing the navy and white hoops, adding three 'fishing emojis' and tagging the location of The Salty Dog Cafe in Torquay.
It seems there is no love lost between Smith and his former side with Smith set to go up against the Dogs for the first time in Round 11 on May 22, in what is set to be a mouthwatering clash.
'It makes Round 11 even more interesting, which I think we'll all be looking forward to,' Bontempelli added.
'And everyone loves a bit of theatre in the game, so we'll be happy to provide, you know, the same as we get closer.'
It also appears that Bontempelli has unfollowed Smith on Instagram.
Smith, meanwhile, lifted the lid on why he opted to leave the Kennel over the summer, adding that while he loved the club, he needed a fresh start.
'I still love the club, that's what people forget,' Smith said at the EJ Whitten Grand Final Legends Lunch.
'But there's a level of when you outgrow a place, or you just need a fresh change for whatever reason. I still love them, they're still my mates. I won't get too deep into it.
'I feel like I'd be doing myself a disservice for the player I want to become and the person I want to become by staying in the same environment but we'll see.'
Like Geelong, the Bulldogs have also won five and lost three matches this season and are currently on a three-game winning streak.
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