Bont responds with Dogs ‘filthy’ over Bailey Smith Ballarat jab
The Western Bulldogs are reportedly ‘filthy’ at former player Bailey Smith, after the Geelong star took a cheeky jab at his old club following the Cats’ thrilling win over Collingwood.
Smith caused a stir after joking that a hefty 82,000-strong crowd at the MCG was incomparable to the paltry attendance, mainly due to construction work at Ballarat’s Mars Stadium, that saw the Bulldogs thrash Port Adelaide.
“Beautiful mate. Not getting that at Ballarat,” Smith said of the crowd.
In response, Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli had a pithy response of his own, suggesting that Smith’s recent penchant for raising the middle finger at crowd members might be the reason for his anti-Ballarat jibe.
“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 on Seven’s Sunrise.
“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.”
Smith duly fired back on his Instagram, posting three ‘fishing’ emojis to his story and listing the venue as ‘The Salty Dog Cafe’.
The Bulldogs are set to face the Cats at GMHBA Stadium in Round 11, with Smith expected to be the centre of attention.
According to Seven footy reporter Mitch Cleary, the Dogs are less than impressed with the former star, who rose to fame with an outstanding finals series during the club’s run to the grand final in 2021.
He played 103 games with the Bulldogs after being taken with pick 7 in the 2018 National Draft.
The 24-year old left the Bulldogs in acrimonious circumstances at the end of 2024 after spending the season on the sidelines with a knee injury, with the Dogs left frustrated both by Smith’s long-expected departure and the Cats’ unwillingness to give up more than pick 17 in a trade for him.
“They are filthy at Bailey Smith from last night,” Cleary said on Seven’s Sunday Footy Feast.
“They feel that potentially he checked out 6-9 months before his end at the Western Bulldogs.
“I think a few of those senior Bulldogs players have got him in their sights for that game.
“I know it’s a little dig, but I think that’s the culmination of everything that’s gone on … a few senior player at the Bulldogs feel that Bailey had his mind in other areas last year, even though he was contracted at the Bulldogs.”