Latest news with #Bontempelli
Sydney Morning Herald
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Why Bailey Smith left the Bulldogs, and the comment that cut them the deepest
The comment prompted the genial Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli to depart from a career of amiably saying nothing to smilingly tell a Channel Seven morning show: 'It's nice to know we're still on Bailey's mind'. He then needled: 'There's probably a few less people in Ballarat for him to flip the bird to'. Not quite Kendrick Lamar versus Drake, but also not nothing. Bontempelli's comment was a reminder that in Smith's gusting re-emergence after a year on the sidelines, he has twice been fined for flipping the bird to fans. The exchanges set up the idea of simmering animus between the club and former player ahead of a reunion in Geelong under lights. 'I live for that sort of stuff, so it's just going to be the best fun. Regardless of how it goes, I can't wait to get back out there.' Smith told Fox Footy on Saturday. Straight after Bont's reply, 'Bazlenka' (Smith's Instagram handle) teased Bontempelli with a post to his 363,000 followers from Torquay's 'Salty Dog Cafe' that his old skipper had taken the bait. Loading But Bontempelli's first comment – 'it's nice to know we're still on Bailey's mind' – might actually be the most instructive. In his last year at the Bulldogs, Dogs players felt they were far from Bailey's mind, and that he had checked out of the club. In 2023, Smith had been deeply frustrated at the Dogs. A star running player, he couldn't get into the midfield (where he felt he belonged) because coach Luke Beveridge was persisting with a combination centred around Bontempelli, Liberatore and Jack Macrae. Smith, meanwhile, was out on a half-forward flank. Then as training began ahead of a new season, in which Beveridge knew he needed to change what he had been doing with his midfield, Smith did his knee. Had he not done so, and had he played last year, it would almost certainly have been in the midfield. One of the key reasons for Smith eventually leaving might have evaporated. Instead, for Smith it was injury added to insult. A month after his injury, the club went to Mooloolaba for a training camp and Smith left days early. It annoyed some senior players, who look back on it now as the first moment of him separating himself from the club. Others at the Dogs figure this was just the first tangible moment to hang the argument off but in reality the significance of him leaving the camp was overstated – there was precious little a player one month into his recovery could do there. But Smith's departure signalled to some in the playing group that he wanted to just get on and do his own thing. That became the pattern of the year for him at the Dogs. As Ed Richards nailed down the position Smith might have had in the Dogs' recast midfield, Smith was working alone to overcome his knee injury, often doing his rehab sessions alone at night or when no one was there. It was no surprise to anyone when he wanted to leave at the year's end and nominated the Cats. Bulldogs people, who did not want to comment publicly in order to speak freely, said it was not the fact that Smith left the club that annoyed them, but how he did it. Beveridge was far more equable. 'I'm really happy, personally, that he's well within himself, and he's playing good footy but there's no ongoing considerations around what could have been from us because there wasn't any negativity around the separation from my point of view and from the club's point of view. That all happened pretty amicably, regardless of the conjecture over 'was the pick low enough', all that sort of stuff, that's probably something that people will continue to talk about,' Beveridge said. Loading Smith went to Geelong as part of a trade for pick 17, which also landed them Matthew Kennedy from Carlton. They used pick 17 at the draft on powerful mid-forward Cooper Hynes. Smith's impact on Geelong has been profound on the field and off. Overwhelmingly he was recruited to help transform the Cats midfield. He has done that with running ability that is on a level above other players. On the field – and this comparison is made with trepidation lest it be interpreted as a broader life comparison, which it is not – Smith reminds of Ben Cousins for his high-speed running and endurance. He was also recruited – to a far lesser extent – with an eye to the Cats wanting and needing to fill the new stand they had just completed. Smith is box office and he would fill those seats. Smith is a disruptor on the field and, in a marketing sense, off it. He has a social media impact unparalleled at Geelong and bettered by few in the AFL. He went to Geelong on a deal – five years at roughly $750,000 a year – that already looks modest. There was cynicism that he was enticed by the club sponsor, and Smith employer, Cotton On. It's an understandable frustration when Geelong land yet another player, but Smith had long worked for Cotton On as a brand ambassador and model and his current deal with the clothing company has another year to run. If his next contract were to suddenly rise dramatically, the AFL would intervene unless it could be proven to be in line with the market for the services provided. When Smith is about the most marketable person in the AFL, it would be hard to challenge a market rate. Cotton On's bigger problem might be getting Smith in clothes. His popular Instagram page seemingly has more photos of him without a shirt than with one. It makes you want to channel Steve Carell in the movie Date Night, erupting at bare-chested Mark Wahlberg: 'for the love of God will you put on a f---ing shirt'. Smith has Wahlberg-like abs. Geelong thought they knew the marketable star they were getting, but were still unprepared for what arrived. Smith wore a Nike headband in the first pre-season games. It was a news item. Headbands sold out at the club shop and at sport stores while discussions were had between the AFL and Geelong over the wearing of a non-sponsored product displaying a visible logo. It was resolved that it was acceptable for a pre-season game but would not be tolerated in season. He now wears the headband with the swoosh on the inside. Headbands still sell heavily. They quickly had to learn Smith had his own unfiltered way of connecting to fans. Over summer, 'Bazlenka' encouraged Cats fans to get down to the Torquay Hotel and get on the piss with him, and one of his Barry beer business partners Charlie Curnow, to promote their beer. At the EJ Whitten grand final legends lunch last year, Smith said of the Dogs: 'I still love the club, that's what people forget. 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.' That he needed a fresh start was unchallenged by anyone at the Bulldogs, who were all also acutely aware of the serious mental health problems Smith had endured through his time there. While it is a situation that feels to an outsider at odds with his extroverted on-field and social media persona, those who know him also know that only speaks to the complexity of the issues with which Smith continues to deal. His old teammates were comfortable with his reasons for leaving, but less impressed to learn he felt he had outgrown them. It made them sound and feel small – a sentiment reinforced by his chip about Ballarat – and it did not sit well. There is undoubtedly still love there. Just perhaps not on Thursday night.
The Age
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Why Bailey Smith left the Bulldogs, and the comment that cut them the deepest
The comment prompted the genial Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli to depart from a career of amiably saying nothing to smilingly tell a Channel Seven morning show: 'It's nice to know we're still on Bailey's mind'. He then needled: 'There's probably a few less people in Ballarat for him to flip the bird to'. Not quite Kendrick Lamar versus Drake, but also not nothing. Bontempelli's comment was a reminder that in Smith's gusting re-emergence after a year on the sidelines, he has twice been fined for flipping the bird to fans. The exchanges set up the idea of simmering animus between the club and former player ahead of a reunion in Geelong under lights. 'I live for that sort of stuff, so it's just going to be the best fun. Regardless of how it goes, I can't wait to get back out there.' Smith told Fox Footy on Saturday. Straight after Bont's reply, 'Bazlenka' (Smith's Instagram handle) teased Bontempelli with a post to his 363,000 followers from Torquay's 'Salty Dog Cafe' that his old skipper had taken the bait. Loading But Bontempelli's first comment – 'it's nice to know we're still on Bailey's mind' – might actually be the most instructive. In his last year at the Bulldogs, Dogs players felt they were far from Bailey's mind, and that he had checked out of the club. In 2023, Smith had been deeply frustrated at the Dogs. A star running player, he couldn't get into the midfield (where he felt he belonged) because coach Luke Beveridge was persisting with a combination centred around Bontempelli, Liberatore and Jack Macrae. Smith, meanwhile, was out on a half-forward flank. Then as training began ahead of a new season, in which Beveridge knew he needed to change what he had been doing with his midfield, Smith did his knee. Had he not done so, and had he played last year, it would almost certainly have been in the midfield. One of the key reasons for Smith eventually leaving might have evaporated. Instead, for Smith it was injury added to insult. A month after his injury, the club went to Mooloolaba for a training camp and Smith left days early. It annoyed some senior players, who look back on it now as the first moment of him separating himself from the club. Others at the Dogs figure this was just the first tangible moment to hang the argument off but in reality the significance of him leaving the camp was overstated – there was precious little a player one month into his recovery could do there. But Smith's departure signalled to some in the playing group that he wanted to just get on and do his own thing. That became the pattern of the year for him at the Dogs. As Ed Richards nailed down the position Smith might have had in the Dogs' recast midfield, Smith was working alone to overcome his knee injury, often doing his rehab sessions alone at night or when no one was there. It was no surprise to anyone when he wanted to leave at the year's end and nominated the Cats. Bulldogs people, who did not want to comment publicly in order to speak freely, said it was not the fact that Smith left the club that annoyed them, but how he did it. Beveridge was far more equable. 'I'm really happy, personally, that he's well within himself, and he's playing good footy but there's no ongoing considerations around what could have been from us because there wasn't any negativity around the separation from my point of view and from the club's point of view. That all happened pretty amicably, regardless of the conjecture over 'was the pick low enough', all that sort of stuff, that's probably something that people will continue to talk about,' Beveridge said. Loading Smith went to Geelong as part of a trade for pick 17, which also landed them Matthew Kennedy from Carlton. They used pick 17 at the draft on powerful mid-forward Cooper Hynes. Smith's impact on Geelong has been profound on the field and off. Overwhelmingly he was recruited to help transform the Cats midfield. He has done that with running ability that is on a level above other players. On the field – and this comparison is made with trepidation lest it be interpreted as a broader life comparison, which it is not – Smith reminds of Ben Cousins for his high-speed running and endurance. He was also recruited – to a far lesser extent – with an eye to the Cats wanting and needing to fill the new stand they had just completed. Smith is box office and he would fill those seats. Smith is a disruptor on the field and, in a marketing sense, off it. He has a social media impact unparalleled at Geelong and bettered by few in the AFL. He went to Geelong on a deal – five years at roughly $750,000 a year – that already looks modest. There was cynicism that he was enticed by the club sponsor, and Smith employer, Cotton On. It's an understandable frustration when Geelong land yet another player, but Smith had long worked for Cotton On as a brand ambassador and model and his current deal with the clothing company has another year to run. If his next contract were to suddenly rise dramatically, the AFL would intervene unless it could be proven to be in line with the market for the services provided. When Smith is about the most marketable person in the AFL, it would be hard to challenge a market rate. Cotton On's bigger problem might be getting Smith in clothes. His popular Instagram page seemingly has more photos of him without a shirt than with one. It makes you want to channel Steve Carell in the movie Date Night, erupting at bare-chested Mark Wahlberg: 'for the love of God will you put on a f---ing shirt'. Smith has Wahlberg-like abs. Geelong thought they knew the marketable star they were getting, but were still unprepared for what arrived. Smith wore a Nike headband in the first pre-season games. It was a news item. Headbands sold out at the club shop and at sport stores while discussions were had between the AFL and Geelong over the wearing of a non-sponsored product displaying a visible logo. It was resolved that it was acceptable for a pre-season game but would not be tolerated in season. He now wears the headband with the swoosh on the inside. Headbands still sell heavily. They quickly had to learn Smith had his own unfiltered way of connecting to fans. Over summer, 'Bazlenka' encouraged Cats fans to get down to the Torquay Hotel and get on the piss with him, and one of his Barry beer business partners Charlie Curnow, to promote their beer. At the EJ Whitten grand final legends lunch last year, Smith said of the Dogs: 'I still love the club, that's what people forget. 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.' That he needed a fresh start was unchallenged by anyone at the Bulldogs, who were all also acutely aware of the serious mental health problems Smith had endured through his time there. While it is a situation that feels to an outsider at odds with his extroverted on-field and social media persona, those who know him also know that only speaks to the complexity of the issues with which Smith continues to deal. His old teammates were comfortable with his reasons for leaving, but less impressed to learn he felt he had outgrown them. It made them sound and feel small – a sentiment reinforced by his chip about Ballarat – and it did not sit well. There is undoubtedly still love there. Just perhaps not on Thursday night.
News.com.au
04-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Bailey Smith and Bontempelli trade verbal jabs in fiery war of words
The war of words between Bailey Smith and Marcus Bontempelli has added yet another chapter on Sunday. Smith ignited the feud on Saturday night following Geelong's thrilling three-point victory against Collingwood at the MCG. The former Bulldogs midfielder delivered a cheeky swipe at his old club when speaking with Fox Footy's Cameron Mooney after the final siren. The 24-year-old was asked how it felt to be playing in front of such a big crowd and he couldn't help himself after watching his former club thrash Port Adelaide in front of a crowd of 4,814 in Ballarat. Smith replied with a grin: 'Beautiful mate. Not getting that at Ballarat'. Bulldogs skipper Bontempelli then returned serve on Smith on Sunday morning during an appearance on Channel 7's Sunrise. 'Very interesting by Bailey. It's nice to know we're still on Bailey's mind and he's still thinking about us, even at another team,' Bontempelli said. 'In the end, there's probably a few less people in Ballarat for him to flip the bird to, so maybe that's why he's a little bit disappointed. 'But it makes Round 11 even more interesting, which I think we'll all be looking forward to. Everyone loves a bit of theatre in the game.' But Smith wasn't finished and took to social media to deliver the latest swipe at his former club, posting an image of himself while marking the location as 'The Salty Dog Cafe, Esplanade, Torquay' and capping it off with three fishing lines. The fiery feud between the pair only further adds to the upcoming clash between the two sides to kick off Round 11. The Bulldogs will venture down to GMHBA Stadium in Geelong on Thursday May 22 with the contest kicking off at 7:30pm (AEST). Smith was moved to Geelong in the final moments of last year's trade deadline in a messy, turbulent negotiation between the two clubs. Smith had played 103 games for the Dogs and played in the club's premiership after being drafted with the seventh pick of the 2018 Draft.
Daily Mail
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
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. ☠️ — 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.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Smith, Bont trade barbs after Cats' epic AFL win
Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli has hit back at Bailey Smith after the Geelong star fired an unprompted shot at his old club ahead of their big AFL clash. Moments after Smith had been high among the Cats' best in their epic Saturday night win over Collingwood, he contrasted the atmosphere of a packed MCG to the Bulldogs' win over Port Adelaide earlier in the day. Whereas Smith played in front of more than 80,000 fans, the Bulldogs-Port game featured less than 5000 because of building works at the Ballarat venue. Baz continues his amazing first season as a Cat 😼#AFLPiesCats — AFL (@AFL) May 3, 2025 "It's beautiful ... I'm not getting that at Ballarat," Smith told Fox Footy after Geelong's nail-biting 13.12 (90) to 12.15 (87) triumph. Smith joined Geelong from the Bulldogs in last year's trade period and he is due to face his old club on May 22 at GMHBA Stadium. Bulldogs skipper Bontempelli on Sunday gave a cheeky return of serve to Smith, his teammate of six years. "It's nice to know we're still on Bailey's mind," Bontempelli told the Seven Network. "You know, he's still thinking about us even at another team. "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." Smith wasn't finished, later posting a fishing emoji to his Instagram story, implying Bontempelli had taken the bait. Smith is relishing his new home and has not shied from controversy, fined twice already this season for flipping the bird at opposition fans. But the midfielder also continues to walk the walk with a game-high 34 possessions against Collingwood, while Cats captain Patrick Dangerfield was best afield after his outstanding last term. Dangerfield was pivotal in the Cats rallying from 20 points down in the third term to be 17 up late in the last term. Collingwood then stormed home and fell short by three points, with Jack Crisp's shot at goal after the final siren only scoring a behind. Dangerfield's ferocious attack on the ball had Cats coach Chris Scott comparing him to a New Zealand rugby legend. "He looked like Jonah Lomu there at one stage," Scott said. "He can attack the ball in the air, but that ground-level stuff, I'm a bit biased - I like those players, the (Jordan) De Goey-type players, powerful, bull-at-a-gate." Collingwood coach Craig McRae jokingly feared he might have poked the bear before the game. "I stole his park before the game and he wasn't happy. I blame myself - he's a bloody good player, isn't he," McRae said. "He's a battering ram. He just bee-lines you and runs through you. "Right now, he's just an igniter ... you need big players to stand up in big moments and he was fantastic." The Cats lost big man Rhys Stanley to a hamstring early in the match and Scott said Mark Blicavs was "critical" in replacing him at the ruck contests.
