Photographer speaks after verbal abuse from Bailey Smith at Cats training

Geelong star Bailey Smith verbally abused a female photographer who was taking photos at the Cats’ training session on Wednesday, adding a layer of drama to the build-up to next Friday night’s preliminary final.

Geelong Advertiser photographer Alison Wynd told this masthead she was left rattled but OK after Smith’s “unwarranted” reaction to being photographed while receiving treatment on the bench before stepping onto the oval to train.

She said it was the second time the Brownlow Medal fancy had sworn at her in the past month.

As he walked around the boundary on Wednesday, Smith took exception to the photographer, who was standing in the stands, and then doubled back to deliver a spray, asking her to delete the photos.

Wynd told Smith she was just doing her job, before he abused her further, allegedly telling her she was “doing a f---ing shit job”.

“I just thought it was a completely unwarranted reaction to the situation,” Wynd said.

“Prior to that, I photographed Mitch Duncan on the same massage table getting worked on. Bailey got on the table, I photographed him and then he said it was a breach of his privacy, that I was trying to bait him, which is incorrect.

“It wasn’t as if I was photographing him with his girlfriend,” she continued. “It was an open media training session.”

Wynd said Smith had previously sworn at her in the last month.

“Previously, when Bailey was leaving the pitch, he said, ‘Did you get enough f---ing photos yet?’, to me while I was photographing.”

News Corp, which owns the Advertiser, published a photo taken by Wynd showing Smith flipping the bird towards the camera while he was receiving treatment on the bench.

Geelong said Cats CEO Steve Hocking had made contact with Wynd on Wednesday afternoon as a result of the incident, although it’s unclear what the club said to Smith.

Media had been invited in to gain vision of the session as part of the Cats build-up, and the incident occurred when players were training with cameras and journalists watching.

Cats coach Chris Scott had not yet emerged from the rooms.

The Cats have been trying to be more accessible to media in 2025, with their other players – led by captain Patrick Dangerfield – having strong, professional relationships with the media. They have been working with Smith in the background as he continues to simultaneously attract headlines and play outstanding football.

Wednesday’s is the latest incident involving Smith, who was involved in an altercation with a photographer earlier in the year.

He has also been fined for flipping the bird at fans this season, and been in the spotlight for his social media activity.

The incident occurred before a pre-planned training session on Wednesday and his teammates were forced to defend his actions, although they had not seen what occurred.

Key forward Shannon Neale was asked whether it was appropriate to have players having a crack at the media in an open session.

“I sort of heard word that something had happened. I didn’t see it. I don’t know what happened ... I just don’t really know the audience or the context,” Neale said.

“I don’t speak for anyone else here. I [know] my own mindset. When I come in here to this room, I think if I respect you guys, I will get the respect back and vice versa. I think that is the relationship you should have in the workplace. If you guys respect me, I will respect you.”

Smith has only spoken to the host broadcasters in post-game interviews throughout his season with the Cats, and appeared on podcasts.

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