Smith shines as Cats survive Dogs' challenge in classic
Bailey Smith had the last laugh over his former teammates as Geelong hung on for a 14-point win over the Western Bulldogs in an instant AFL classic.
Smith was influential again, continuing his superb start to life with the Cats in their 20.7 (127) to 16.17 (113) victory at GMHBA Stadium on Thursday night.
Max Holmes (33 disposals, eight clearances) and Jeremy Cameron (six goals) also starred for Geelong, and Shannon Neale kicked two crucial late goals in a career-best haul of five.
But Smith (33 touches, six clearances) was the central figure in front of a near-capacity crowd of 32,641 fans in his first clash with the Bulldogs since his high-profile trade move at the end of last year.
Bont and Baz say hello 😅#AFLCatsDogs pic.twitter.com/lkY2hzxxOE
— AFL (@AFL) May 22, 2025
"I certainly s*** myself for this game but it was almost reverse psychology with them not giving me attention," Smith told Channel Seven post-match.
"So it was good, they didn't go after me and I loved it. I'm so glad we beat them."
A series of cheeky barbs from both sides of the fence - first Smith, then Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli and coach Luke Beveridge - lit the fuse for an explosive encounter.
Tension with another party boiled over before the bounce, when Beveridge clashed with Channel Seven commentator Kane Cornes in a heated confrontation on the boundary line.
Smith had 10 disposals in an entertaining first term, bettered only by Holmes (13), but it was the Bulldogs who led by three points at quarter-time.
Their lead didn't last long.
Geelong seized control with six consecutive goals to open the second stanza, including three to Cameron, and led by as much as 33 points before half-time as they repeatedly punished the Bulldogs' skill errors.
Holmes brought Cats fans to their feet in the third quarter with three bounces down the wing and a team-lifting goal on the run.
Two goals each to Buku Khamis and Matt Kennedy helped keep the Bulldogs within reach as they piled 7.4 to 5.1 in a free-scoring term.
Successive free kicks paid against Bulldogs ruckman Tim English gifted Cameron his sixth major.
But two late goals in the shadows of three-quarter time through Joel Freijah and Laitham Vandermeer got the Dogs back within 10 points at the final change.
Scores were level with less than seven minutes left before Neale struck two decisive late blows.
NEALE WINS THE RACE 🏁#AFLCatsDogs pic.twitter.com/zcBrwrePw0
— AFL (@AFL) May 22, 2025
Smith and Tom Liberatore tangled late after the Cats midfielder ruffled James O'Donnell's hair but there did not appear to be anything untoward in the exchange.
Liberatore (31 disposals, nine clearances) and Ed Richards (29 touches, 10 clearances, two goals) were huge in the Bulldogs' second-half comeback.
Matt Kennedy (25 disposals, three goals) and Aaron Naughton (three goals) were also important.
Geelong's win gave them a 7-4 record and was a fine way to celebrate stalwart Mitch Duncan's 300th game, while the Bulldogs slipped to 6-5.
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