Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith

[angelopetraglia]

Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith

For one I am glad Tim Watson said something. The media narrative is painting the dogs as the perpetrator in this whole saga.

Bailey was played out of position so he is justified in leaving.
Dogs are shit; how good are the cats.

No mention of the other stuff Smith has been up to.

Agree 100%

Each to their own opinion. I would love for the full story to come out. What the club really thinks. What Bailey really thinks. But from what we can judge from the outside. From his behaviour. From his social media activity. I find it incredibly diffifuclt to have empathy for Bailey's position.

Bailey chose to play a TEAM sport, not an INDIVIDUAL sport. A TEAM sport requires you at least at times to put the TEAM's needs before your OWN. Bailey has not demonstrated this in how he has behaved in regards to the role the TEAM wanted him to play or how he has behaved off the field.

Good luck to his next club.

[Bullies]

Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith

I couldn't give a brass razoo if he stayed or went but what pisses me off is the clubs can't get a fair price on development of the talent they have at their disposal.
Players nominating clubs that aren't in a position to fairly compensate irks me.
Wasn't Brisbane using their 1st round pick up so we didn't get it for Dunkley. What's not to say Geelong go early in the trade and offload their pick 20 or what ever it may be.

Agree. Couldn't give a rats about Smith and good on him as he free to do what he pleases. What i do want is a return on our investment and fair compensation. Sick of being screwed over time and time again like the AFL do with our fixturing and like Lions did with Dunkley. Happy to walk him if it means we don't become a laughing stock with what Geelong offer.

[angelopetraglia]

Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith

Bailey Smith

He grew up in East Malvern. He went to Xavier College. He is born with sublime genetics. He looks like a greek god carved out of stone. He has off the charts natural athletic talent. He was captain of his school football team and the Sandringham Dragons. He is an under 18 All Australian. He is taken number #7 in the draft. He never plays a VFL game, he goes straight into the AFL. He has more social media followers than any other AFL footballer. He is adored by the wider AFL community. He uses this popularity to monetise his position. As well as a lucrative AFL contract he is sponspored by Cotton On and Monster Energy. He has also appeared in campaigns for McDonalds, Kayo Sports and CoinSpot. He dates beautiful models for fun.

What an incredible run. A lot of hard work and dedication to his craft. No doubt. But also a massive dose of extreme luck when it comes to genetics and the privilgiege he was born into.

Yet somehow in all of this. Bailey Smith makes himself the victim.

[Grantysghost]

Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith

abc.net.au
Bailey Smith, Cotton On, and the Geelong Foootball Club — how a trade request from a star AFL player is raising eyebrows off the field

Kyle Pollard
10–12 minutes

---

The announcement last week that Bulldogs star Bailey Smith was seeking a trade was met with an overwhelming "well duh" in AFL circles.
Rumours have been circulating for more than a year that Smith was unhappy at the Dogs, and that Geelong was his destination of choice.
It's no secret that the Cats have become the masters of luring big names to Kardinia Park.
It's also no secret that Smith has a financial deal with major Cats sponsor Cotton On, and that comment threads on social media lit up highlighting this very fact.
But how linked to the Geelong Football Club is Cotton On? And will the AFL look into a deal which — on the surface — is an eyebrow raiser?
Here's everything you need to know.
What is the Cotton On Group and who owns it?

The Cotton On Group (COG) is a retail company founded in Geelong, which has more than 1,500 stores across 22 different countries.
While you're probably aware of the stock standard Cotton On clothing store, you might not have noticed that there always seems to be a Typo store close by as well — that's because COG also owns the popular stationary brand.
In fact, they have a heap of other brands in their stable as well, including but not limited to the youth threads shop Factorie, the Rubi shoe line, and women's fashion label Supr?.


Nigel Austin with then head of women's wear Susanne Summers, global general manager Felicity McGahan, and model Lara Bingle during a brand launch in Santa Monica in 2014. (Getty Images: Mike Windle)
The company was founded by Nigel Austin in 1991, after he first started selling acid-washed denim jackets at Geelong's Beckley Markets in 1988 to earn a bit of cash while completing a business degree.
His supplier was his dad, Grant Austin, who was a clothing wholesaler.
Austin is the majority owner of Cotton On, while cousin Ash Hardwick is a co-owner. His brother, Michael Hardwick, is the chief financial officer. Austin's former wife, Tania, was also a crucial cog in getting the Cotton On machine moving, and is worth an estimated $814 million thanks to her ownership of fashion brand Decjuba.
And speaking of stables, Nigel Austin also owns Rosemont Stud, based in Ceres and Gnarwarre around the Barrabool Hills west of Geelong. The stud is run by former multi-platform sport journalist Anthony Mithen, who started his career at the Geelong Advertiser.
Austin's estimated net worth is close $2 billion.


Patrick Dangerfield in Cotton On branded off-field gear during a Cats game. Cotton On has had an apparel deal with the club since 2016. (Getty Images: Dylan Burns)
How is the Geelong Football Club linked to Cotton On?

Cotton On started an official partnership with the Cats in 2016 as their on and off-field apparel provider and sponsor.
But the links between the two go way back.
Via their philanthropic arm, the Cotton On Foundation, the company has worked with the club in various ways, including taking Cats players on trips to Uganda to see the work the foundation does with locals.
In 2010, premiership Cats Brad Ottens and Tom Lonergan joined a team that included Cotton On employees and a photo journalist from the Geelong Advertiser on a trip to the village of Mannya.
"Cotton On has created a relationship with a group over in Uganda and they are helping build the community," Lonergan said at the time.
"Brad and I thought it would be a great experience to travel over there and that's how it turned out."
The company also partners with players and family members on fashion projects.


Emma Hawkins, who is married to Cats star Tom, models for Ceres Life, a brand owned by Cotton On. (Instagram: @cereslife )
The club's 2016 announcement of their apparel deal highlighted the fact that Josh Caddy, Mitch Duncan, George Horlin-Smith and Scott Selwood had helped develop the new uniform, while also saying Patrick Dangerfield had put his touch on the kit by requesting a pocket on the shorts for his mouthguard.
In 2020, Cotton On helped launch the brand Ceres Life, which was created by Geelong local and Cotton On group executive for trend and innovation Julie Christy. Named after the town of Ceres — where Rosemont Stud is based — the brand is aimed at women over 35 years of age, with a focus on being environmentally friendly.
Emma Hawkins, wife of Cats legend Tom Hawkins and co-founder of children clothes company Homegrown Kids, is a brand ambassador for Ceres Life. The Hawkins family also lives on a farm in the region.
On top of that, earlier this year the club announced that key forward heir apparent to Hawkins, Shannon Neale, was working in collaboration with Cotton On to create a fashion line called The Scratch Project.
So how is Bailey Smith linked to Cotton On?

Smith, who started his career in 2019 and became one of the best players in the AFL by 2021, posted a video in January 2022 modelling for Cotton On.
As one of the most recognisable players in the league, with 330,000 Instagram followers, the partnership makes sense for the brand.
By September 2023, the pair had partnered up to create a fashion line designed by Smith.
"Designing this range with the Cotton On Team was great, I do have an artistic side, and the brand (Cotton On) was able to help bring a lot of my visions to life in a way that I’m really proud of," Smith said at the time.
"It was important to me to be involved in all steps of the process for each piece in the collection, as I wanted the range to be a reflection of the clothing I love to wear."
Incidentally, trade rumours had begun around July 2023, with discussions focused around his drop in form amid claims he was being played out of position at the Bulldogs.
What are the AFL's rules around third-party payments?

In 2012, the AFL changed the rules around third-party payments in direct response to Carlton star Chris Judd's role as an ambassador to the Visy packaging company,
Judd had joined the Blues in 2008 after leaving West Coast, and was paid a rumoured $200,000 a year to be the face of Visy, which Judd's agent at the time said was an inaccurate figure.
Visy boss Richard Pratt was the Carlton president at the time.


Stephen Kernahan and Chris Judd in 2010. Judd had a significant third-party financial deal with club sponsors Visy.
The change to the rules in 2012 meant the club had to record the payment under the Additional Services Agreement — essentially meaning it had to be recorded within the salary cap — going from paying none of the money, to half of it, and eventually all of it.
The deal was killed off in 2015.
Under the new rules, everything is means tested.
In the old days, a star footballer could be on the books for a company, earn a mint for a few appearances at some shops or events, and walk away with a lot of money for not doing much.
The new rule essentially banned that from happening.


Hawks champs Leigh Matthews and Don Scott promoting Canadian Pacific airlines in the 1970s. Brand deals with footballers have been around for almost as long as the game itself. (Supplied)
The complication with Smith is that he has significant social media reach and is hands on with his fashion brand, meaning it's difficult to means test his true value to Cotton On.
What can't be argued against is that the Cotton On relationship started while Smith was at the Western Bulldogs. If he did happen to end up at Geelong, the AFL would be keeping a close eye on future payments to ensure a consistent flow.
Again, however, an argument could be made that increased future payments came as the result of increased exposure of being at a larger club and having a greater profile.
So what does it all mean for a Bailey Smith to Geelong trade?

Ultimately, Smith is yet to nominate the club he wants to land at and that's likely because whichever club it is remains in the finals hunt.
Hawthorn is still a small chance of snaring the dynamic midfielder, but Geelong looks for all intents and purposes to be his future home.
The conspiracy theorists will claim Geelong knew what it was doing three years ago and set Cotton On onto Smith following his breakout 2021 season, knowing that their key midfielders in Dangerfield and Joel Selwood would likely be gone or close to going by the end of Smith's contract.
The non-conspiracy theorists would say Cotton On are just really good at marketing their product, and that Smith — with his mass social media following and iconic haircut — was the perfect ambassador for a product aimed at Australian youth.


Zach Tuohy and Bailey Smith after a match in 2022. The retiring Tuohy won't be at the Cats next year — but will Smith? (Getty Images: Dylan Burns)
Either way, Geelong continues to plant its flag as a destination club for big name players.
Where once it was only the mighty Melbourne clubs like Collingwood and Carlton that could lure marquee stars, Geelong's track record of having a strong culture, a more relaxed lifestyle, and a constant dog in the finals fight is proving tantalising.
When they won the flag in 2007, three of their starting 22 had started their careers at other clubs.
In their qualifying final win against Port Adelaide this year, that number was eight.
Over the years since 2007, most of Geelong's trade targets have either had a link to the Geelong or south-west region, a family member already at the club, or were on the outer at their old team.
Smith is a different prospect.
Born and raised in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne as a Hawthorn supporter, and attending Xavier College, the only thing on the surface that links the exciting Bulldog to Geelong is his deal with Cotton On.
But a surface level look at why Smith would want to change clubs would be a mistake given Geelong's unique qualities.
In a quickly deleted post on his Instagram page earlier in the week, Smith wrote "reminder: there's two sides to every story", followed by a clown emoji.
Whichever team lands Smith, they will hope his on-field abilities do the talking and they get the wins on the board.
But with all eyes following that flowing blond mullet and his every move ahead of the trade period, there's one thing that's certain — team Cotton On will feel they're already kicking bags of goals.

[Happy Days]

Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith

Cool. All very cool.

Side note - thats what the Cotton On guy looks like? Far be it from me to tell him how to run a business but personally I think dressing like absolute shit is a bad look for an alleged fashion brand CEO.

[EasternWest]

Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith

In light of the direction this conversation has taken now seems like a good time to drop this back into the chat.

[Grantysghost]

Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith

Cool. All very cool.

Side note - thats what the Cotton On guy looks like? Far be it from me to tell him how to run a business but personally I think dressing like absolute shit is a bad look for an alleged fashion brand CEO.

2 billion dollar net worth and still looks like a stable hand.

[Happy Days]

Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith

In light of the direction this conversation has taken now seems like a good time to drop this back into the chat.

In my heart this was the moment I knew it was all over. Annoying that he was even allowed over the Bridge.

[Curly5]

Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith

Bailey Smith has given the club (and its supporters) immeasurably more than the club has given him.

He didn't pick the club.

They picked him. And for good reason.

Exceptional talent and a lifetime of dedication, seriously hard work, discipline and training to become the elite sportsman he is.

Every game he played he made the team better.

For 105 quality games.

The club gives him a few dollars for a few years, until it doesn't suit them to continue (think Jackson Mac.) The payment is actually nothing compared with the life energy an elite athlete gives the club.

Whether he wants to stay or go is up to him. Not everyone wants to be a one club player.

Whether he meets the punter's standards on everything - from having a few up to regular attendance at Church - is his business not that of the great moral majority.

Give the guy a break and be grateful for what he has done for our team.

Wish him well and look to the future development of our squad, those that love being where they are.

I just feel there's way more going/has gone on behind the scenes than we will ever be aware of. I like Baz and wish he wasn't going. I wish he'd sorted out his issues with the club and vice versa, whatever they are.

But he's become something other than a footballer, and sees himself as other than the rest. It's distanced him from his current teammates; maybe after a honeymoon period at Geelong or wherever, the same issues will emerge.

[Sedat]

Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith

It was obvious 12 months ago that this is a brown paper bags play to smash out the coin. We are all over-thinking the reasons for this trade request. He simply wants a tonne of cash and is more than happy to get it under the table through his biggest off-field endorsement, which just happens to also be the major apparel naming rights sponsor of his destination club.

The media and his management are trying to run interference and play other angles about discontent being played out of position, wanting a fresh start, #CoAsTaLLiFesTyLe, yada yada yada.....but this is nothing more than a money play. And that's fair enough - it's up to the AFEL to make sure everything is done legit lol

If he was addicted to tortillas and had a multi-million dollar off-field endorsement with Mission, he'd be happy to play back pocket at the kennel for the rest of his career.

[Mofra]

Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith

I don't hate Bailey, I'm completely indifferent to his existence beyond what he can net us in picks in the upcoming trade period.

[Grantysghost]

Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith

@sedat that tortillas line made me Lolz hard. Gold mate.

[Sedat]

Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith

In light of the direction this conversation has taken now seems like a good time to drop this back into the chat.

I'd love him a whole lot more if he was wearing a balaclava and throwing Molotov cocktails while standing next to some random psychopath Greens pollie

[Sedat]

Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith

@sedat that tortillas line made me Lolz hard. Gold mate.

He's a bankable young athlete who is trying to make hay while he still has currency. I always respect the hustle.

[Happy Days]

Re: Welcome to the Bulldogs: Bailey Smith

I'd love him a whole lot more if he was wearing a balaclava and throwing Molotov cocktails while standing next to some random psychopath Greens pollie

This but unironically