Bailey Smith celebrates after Geelong rout, follows through on cheeky post-match vow
Cats defeat Brisbane 16.16 (112) to 11.8 (74) at the MCG as Smith says he will ‘get on the p***’ with mates and later joins teammates in celebration
Bailey Smith said he would "get on the p***" with mates after Geelong dismantled the Brisbane Lions, and the player followed through on the promise in the hours after the Cats' decisive finals victory.
Geelong prevailed 16.16 (112) to 11.8 (74) at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday night, defeating Brisbane in front of a crowd of 86,364 to advance to a preliminary final qualifier. The Cats controlled the contest from the outset, overturning memories of last year's preliminary final loss to the Lions.
Smith made the remark in a post-match interview with Channel 7's Abbey Holmes, saying he intended to take a short break from football and "get on the p*** for a bit, relax the mind and hang out with my mates." He added he had not seen his friends in a while and would use the time to prepare mentally for the challenges ahead.
After the on-field celebrations he was seen joining teammates but appeared to stick to non-alcoholic drinks while others partook. The public exchange and Smith's follow-through drew attention as much for the comment as for the result itself.
The victory sends Geelong into the next stage of the finals series, leaving two weeks before the Cats' next big match. Smith said he did not expect to spend that period watching other games, preferring instead to decompress and regroup with friends before returning focus to preparations for the preliminary final qualifier.
Geelong's comprehensive performance on Friday night put distance between the sides early and denied Brisbane a measure of revenge after last season's narrow preliminary final outcome. The Cats' advancement keeps their premiership hopes intact and hands the club time to recover and refine its game-plan ahead of the next knockout fixture.