AFL ripped for 'doing absolutely nothing' about Bailey Smith's outburst towards female photographer
The AFL has been called out for "doing absolutely nothing" and "just walking past" Geelong star Bailey Smith's outburst at a female photographer.
Veteran footy journalist Damian Barrett clipped the AFL on Nine's Footy Classified on Monday night, ahead of Friday night's preliminary final between Geelong and Hawthorn at the MCG.
"I feel it was behaviour that did come under the respect and responsibility requirements of AFL players under the code of conduct, that all people involved in the game need to operate under, with what he did," Barrett said.
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Bailey Smith of the Cats celebrates kicking a goal. Getty
"Now, I know he apologised and he did send a text to the photographer in question.
"I just can't line up with the AFL doing absolutely nothing on this, just walking past it.
"I know there were conversations behind the scenes, but nothing was said publicly in any meaningful way about what he did."
The photographer was Alison Wynd from News Corp. Smith verbally abused her despite the fact she was taking photos during a Cats training session that was open to media.
Barrett brought the skirmish between Ken Hinkley and Jack Ginnivan into it.
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"I can't line it up with how they felt the need to come down and fine Kenny Hinkley last year $20,000 for daring to say, 'You're not flying anywhere, Jack', after a game of football in the context of that week's build-up to that particular final," Barrett said.
"That's an issue they felt they needed to fine someone one, a whole $20,000, which I didn't get at the time, I don't get it now.
"And I don't get how you can walk past the Bailey Smith issue without any form of addressing it publicly."
Last week, veteran footy journalist Caroline Wilson labelled Smith a "brat" in a scathing take on 3AW radio.
Geelong coach Chris Scott was caught up in his own verbal abuse scandal last week, after making a junior female AFL staffer cry when he berated her following the Cats' qualifying final.
