Latest news with #GeelongCats
Daily Mail
17 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
Famous AFL fan reveals why he RELUCTANTLY got rid of his 'good luck' swastika tattoo
One of the AFL 's most hardcore and flamboyant fans has revealed why he's reluctantly covered up his swastika tattoo, insisting that only ignorant trolls think it's a Nazi symbol. Troy 'Catman' West has been one of the Geelong Cats ' most recognisable fans for many years with his exuberant costumes and make-up. The Cats diehard took to social media over the weekend to announce that he was covering up his swastika tattoo with a 'black sun'. 'To the fwits saying I have/ had a Nazi tattoo design,' his post began. 'Pardon your ignorance but the swastika is a 3000-year-old ancient symbol and I was with the Hari Krishnas (sic) back in the 90s and my tattoo is Hindu and it means good fortune, good luck and good health. 'Only dumb ignorant trolls think it's a Nazi symbol.' West says his tattoo is Hindu and it means 'good fortune, good luck and good health' West said he had the ink covered up because former Victorian premier Dan Andrews banned the symbol. 'Neo Nazi swastikas I agree with (banning)' wrote West. 'But not the religious Hindu swastika. They need to separate that! 'Doesn't matter now. It's gone and I have replaced it with a black sun.' West made headlines in 2021 after revealing the heavy abuse he copped for being 'openly gay, confident and loud'. Reduced to breaking point, West shocked fans by severing all ties with the Geelong cheer squad and football club. The son of late 1963 Cats premiership player Roy West opened up on the 'hellish time' he has endured in a lengthy and emotional statement on Facebook. 'I don't want to be around negative influences and I feel I need to take control of the Catman persona that I've worked hard to create,' his 1100-word post began. 'I'm an openly gay, confident, loud, abrasive, energetic, creative, colourful and popular person and that sometimes isn't what some sections of the community like. 'I've grown up surrounded by homophobia, prejudice and being targeted. I'm at a stage in my life where I don't think I should be around elements of that nature. In ANY area of my life.' West told Nine News: 'I don't think I deserve it just for being a crazy cat.' 'And I don't deserve the hatred I get from people who don't even know me or have never interacted with me.' Though West acknowledged his high profile gave him many incredible opportunities, he also copped constant hate on online footy forums. 'It's not fun when a video of me goes viral and I read through 20,000 comments of absolute hate, abuse, homophobia, discrimination, and the worst things imaginable you can say to people,' he added. 'I just don't get why people can hate me so much when they don't know me. 'I struggle to adapt to the new cancel culture that's insidiously infiltrated society. There are just too many people out to get me. 'I no longer wish to be under such scrutiny.' West said it was a difficult and heartbreaking decision to step away from the spotlight. He vowed to continue attending Cats games as a general supporter but hinted at a possible fallout by claiming he'd never been supported or protected. 'For my own sanity, I need to move on,' West wrote. 'I have lost my passion for the game, for Catman and I struggle to even get to games at the moment. I feel like burning my Catcave to the ground. 'I love this club so much but unfortunately they don't love me back in return.' West revealed he was self-medicating to sleep and retaliating to some of the online backlash he's copped. 'I don't like the person this anger has turned me into,' he continued. 'I'm a very warm and funny person in real life and these problems have made me into a bitter raging bull. 'I've hurt friends and family with my anger and fallen out with many people. It has to stop. I want the lovely Troy back in my life. And yours. West urged friends and fans to give him the time and space he needs to come to terms with the fallout. 'I'm strong and resilient. I am Catman, hear me roar!' the powerful post ended. West's father Roy West was one of the Cats biggest stars in the Victorian Football League in the early to mid 1960s. The 108-game fullback won the 1961 Carji Greeves Medal for Geelong's best and fairest player and won a premiership with the club in 1963. West Sr also represented Victoria on two occasions and sadly lost a year long battle with lung cancer in 2011 aged 70 just weeks after Geelong won the premiership.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Revealed: The unique meaning behind two tiny details on footy heartthrob Bailey Smith's uniform
Geelong star Bailey Smith has opened up about the unique messages he writes on his footy boots before games, offering an insight into the Brownlow Medal favourite's mindset. Smith, known for his style on and off the pitch, captured the attention of Channel 7's Brian Taylor before Sunday's match against West Coast. 'This man here, Bailey Smith, he's talking the talk, but he's walking the walk to go with it,' Taylor said as the camera zoomed in to the midfielder's boots. 'Have a look at that: 'spartan' and 'take souls'. 'Take souls' - I've done a bit of investigating - has sort of a loose meaning, but it means you're so incredible at what you do that it forces other people to respect you, that's what 'take souls' means. 'That's a man full of confidence.' Footy legend Nick Riewoldt chimed in: 'Oh yeah, absolutely - and he's backing it up. 'One of the best players in the competition at the moment.' Smith was interviewed after the match and explained that he's been writing on his boots for a while. 'I just write on them every week, so nothing new,' he told Seven. 'Just (to) keep me in the present, keep me in the moment, that's about it.' The star midfielder racked up a season-high 38 disposals and Jeremy Cameron kicked four final-quarter goals as Geelong avoided a major boilover in a 43-point win over West Coast at Optus Stadium. The Cats led by just seven points early in the final quarter of Sunday night's match, and Eagles forward Noah Long had the chance to close the margin to one point with his 35m set shot. But Long's miss proved costly, with Geelong kicking seven of the next eight goals to secure the 17.14 (116) to 11.7 (73) win. Cameron was restricted to one goal across the first three quarters under the tight attention of Reuben Ginbey, but the star forward exploded late to blow out the margin. Smith tallied five clearances, one goal and 834m gained to go with his 38 disposals. He already had 25 disposals to his name by halftime before a tight tag from Brady Hough slowed him somewhat. Max Holmes (27 disposals, seven clearances) was also influential for Geelong, who improved their season record to 8-4. 'He just kept getting the ball early,' Geelong coach Chris Scott said of Smith. 'I thought he and Holmes were really penetrating.'
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Inside the $200 a haircut salon where AFL heartthrob Bailey Smith gets his locks maintained
Bailey Smith is known for two things - his footy and his hair. Now we know where the AFL star gets his famous mullet touched up. The Geelong Cats midfielder has built a strong reputation for his explosive pace, fitness and ball-winning ability, but off the field, it's his famous hair that often steals the spotlight. The 23-year-old gets his trademark look maintained at Joey Scandizzo Salon in South Yarra, one of Melbourne 's most high-end hair studios. Smith was photographed getting his iconic mullet tended to this week, sharing a cheek middle finger salute to the camera operator. A men's haircut here can cost anywhere between $100 and $200, depending on which stylist you choose. If you book in with Scandizzo himself - one of the most awarded hairdressers in the country - you'll be paying top dollar. Smith's blonde mullet has become a part of his brand. It's been copied by fans, discussed on footy shows, and even trended online. In 2022, when he trimmed it for a body wash campaign, it made national headlines - not because it disappeared, but because it changed just enough to keep people talking. Joey Scandizzo's salon is known for sharp cuts, luxury service and a client list full of celebrities, sports stars and TV personalities. They offer more than just a standard trim. The full experience includes a wash, precision cut, blow-dry and styling tailored to your look. Bailey's choice of salon isn't just about looking good. In the modern AFL, players are more visible than ever, and their image off the field can be just as important as their performance on it. Smith has embraced that reality and built a brand that reaches beyond the four quarters of a game. He made his debut for the Bulldogs in 2019 and has since played over 100 games including a high-profile move to Geelong in the off-season. His breakout year came in 2021, when he starred in the finals series and kicked one of the goals of the year in the preliminary final against Port Adelaide. He finished that season as one of the most marketable players in the league. He has since signed endorsement deals, launched his own fashion line with Cotton On, and built a huge social media following with over 370,000 fans on Instagram. His look plays a big role in that popularity. Young fans try to copy his style, and he often trends online just as much for his hair and fashion as for his footy highlights. The team at Joey Scandizzo help keep that look on point. Along with $200 haircuts, the salon offers colour work, beard trims, restyles and scalp treatments. Everything is designed to suit the individual, which is why it's become a favourite among high-profile athletes like Smith. And while the price tag might raise eyebrows for some, it's all part of maintaining a personal brand in 2025.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Cats stand firm against alleged breach
AFL: Geelong Cats coach Chris Scott has refused to accept reports of the club potentially breaking the salary cap.
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Geelong overtakes Sunshine Coast as top tree- and sea-change destination
While the Geelong Cats are fifth on the AFL ladder, their home city is the reigning champion. The Victorian region has become the most popular place for people escaping capital cities to settle, with its picturesque coastline and thriving industry making it an ideal sea-change destination. Greater Geelong has overtaken Queensland's Sunshine Coast as the top region to welcome new residents from the capital cities, followed by Lake Macquarie in New South Wales, Moorabool in Victoria and Maitland in NSW. The Regional Movers Index, a quarterly report compiled by the Regional Australia Institute using Commonwealth Bank data, also shows most tree-changers are coming from Sydney and Melbourne. Sign up for Guardian Australia's breaking news email The rate of people moving to Australia's regions increased by more than 10% in the March quarter, according to the index released on Wednesday. The shift to country life, which accelerated during Covid lockdowns, would only persist as the regions attracted more attention and potential investment, according to a Commonwealth Bank executive, Josh Foster. 'They're idyllic locations to move, whether people want the tree-change or the sea-change,' Foster said. 'I certainly don't see it going back.' Greater Geelong is Australia's largest regional council area, home to more than 282,000 people. Sign up to Breaking News Australia Get the most important news as it breaks after newsletter promotion While the region has a bright future, it is experiencing significant growing pains, according to the council's draft five-year plan. Like most regional areas, greater Geelong is confronting a housing shortage, ageing infrastructure and congestion as it expands. 'Greater Geelong is one of Australia's fastest-growing regions, and managing this expansion will be crucial to our success over the coming decades,' the plan says. Maitland, in the Hunter Valley, is also experiencing rapid growth, attracting residents from capitals and other regions. It was the most popular new home for people moving from other regional areas in the year to March, followed by greater Geelong, the Sunshine Coast, Gympie and the Fraser coast. Maitland, which had a population of 78,000 in 2016, is on track to exceed 100,000 people by the end of 2026, with six new residents arriving every day, according to a council report. The nation's regional population sits at 9.91 million and is set to increase, according to the Regional Australia Institute's chief executive, Liz Ritchie. 'There are big economic gains to be made by supporting, facilitating and nurturing growth across the regions,' Ritchie said. 'Those benefits can only be achieved … by ensuring communities have the infrastructure, facilities, funding and support they need to continue to welcome all those who are actively choosing a regional life.'
