Respected footy journalist unleashes on Bailey Smith after the AFL star’s ‘insulting’ Mad Monday behaviour: ‘Selfish brat’
Veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson has launched a blistering attack on Bailey Smith, accusing the Geelong star of sending ‘an insulting and sexist message’.
Wilson penned an op-ed for The Age on Saturday after Smith mocked her and made fun of her in a now-deleted Instagram post during the Cats’ Mad Monday celebrations.
She labelled Smith’s behaviour as ‘selfish’, calling out both the player and his club for failing to rein him in.
The 24-year-old’s teammate, Max Holmes, had turned up to the Mad Monday celebrations dressed as Wilson, replicating a gown she once wore to the Walkley Awards.
He was also carrying a bow and arrow in a nod to her ‘Caro’s Arrow’ segment from Channel Nine’s Footy Classified.
Smith later shared a photo of Holmes on his Instagram story, captioning it, ‘Caro has never looked better,’ followed by a sweat droplets emoji, a symbol often used with sexual connotations.
The post came just weeks after Wilson branded Smith a ‘brat’ for swearing at a female photographer during an open training session on September 10.
Wilson said while she didn’t take issue with Holmes’ costume, she did wish that he had let her know, saying she had spoken to him just the week prior.
Caroline Wilson (pictured) slammed Bailey Smith and the Cats in a scathing opinion piece
However, she didn’t let Smith off so lightly, describing him as a ‘ticking time bomb’ that finally exploded.
‘I did have a problem with Smith’s social media post and an emoji my daughter had to explain to me. Judging from comments which came my way from people across the industry, the majority being women, I wasn’t alone,’ Wilson wrote.
The post was removed only after a complaint from fellow journalist Jacqui Reed, according to Wilson.
‘This is not a case of professional outrage. How dare Smith get away with sending such an insulting and sexist message to aspiring females with strong opinions working in the media or elsewhere in the AFL,’ she said.
‘Speaking about the behaviour of AFL players through the lens of mental health can be tricky but Smith behaved on Monday like a lawless selfish brat with no thought for the club nor those teammates who have defended and, on occasion, covered for him this season.’
Wilson said that Smith had offended women across the AFL industry and beyond, by targeting her in the post.
She also slammed the Geelong Cats, accusing them of not doing enough following the incident.
Wilson also accused Smith of offending the LGBTQ+ community.
Smith (right) with Max Holmes (left) who was dressed up as Caroline Wilson for Mad Monday
Smith (left) posing with Patrick Dangerfield (right) in an effort to parody Brokeback Mountain
Smith – who was dressed as Brad Pitt’s character from the western movie Legends of the Fall – referred to the film Brokeback Mountain in a photo showing him being embraced by skipper Patrick Dangerfield, who was dressed as a character from the TV show Yellowstone.
He captioned it ‘this is what losing a granny does to ya’.
Wilson said while Holmes had apologised to her, it was a ‘concern’ he’d also said sorry on Smith’s behalf.
She added the league was ‘deeply worried’ about Smith, citing his history of off-field controversies, as well as his infamous ‘nose beers’ comment, made in response to an Instagram comment before the grand final.
Wilson said that despite his poor behaviour, Smith was only punished by the AFL head office twice, previously for raising his middle finger at crowds early in the season.
Smith has faced a number of controversies over recent years, with a video in June 2022 surfacing showing him with an illicit substance.
The AFL launched an investigation and found Smith guilty of ‘conduct unbecoming,’ issuing a two-match suspension and recording a strike under its Illicit Drugs Policy.
Smith later admitted to using drugs during a difficult period following the Bulldogs’ grand final loss, saying he was ‘deeply ashamed’ of his actions.
