Geelong champion Bailey Smith cracked it with an umpire, after he wasn’t awarded a free kick for a high bump in the second quarter of his side’s thumping at the hands of Gold Coast.
Smith and the Cats were having a dirty night at Carrara and that was emphasised in that moment, where the midfielder was knocked to the ground by Suns forward Ethan Read in a contest.
Read, who stands at 202cm, made high contact with the Cats star, who was unlucky not to draw a free kick.
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Bailey Smith cops a high bump from Ethan Read. Fox Footy
A ball up was called as players descended on the pack, and Smith took the chance to turn to the umpire, gesture to his jaw and complain.
“Bailey Smith into a dead end, Read floored him,” commentator Gerard Whateley said on Fox Footy.
Anthony Hudson added: “He’s arguing hard that he should have got a free kick.”
Despite the high contact, Hawthorn champion Jason Dunstall doesn’t believe Read has anything to worry about with the MRO.
“To his credit there Ethan Read, he didn’t go through with the bump. He just stood there and allowed Smith to run into him without really poleaxing him. He did well. Could have been a lot worse,” Dunstall said.
Four-time premiership Hawk Luke Hodge had similar thoughts.
“You understand why the umpire didn’t pay it. Read was just standing there and Smith ran into him,” Hodge told SEN.
Bailey Smith complains to the umpires after a high bump. Fox Footy
Smith was not injured and didn’t leave the field for an HIA test.
But that might be one of the few silver linings for Geelong on Friday night as the Suns dominated.
Gold Coast led by as much as 85 points in the third quarter, before the Cats trimmed it back to 56 by the final siren.
It was a stunning Opening Round performance by the Suns, with star recruit Christian Petracca reminding everyone what he is capable of.
The 2021 Norm Smith Medallist picked up 34 disposals and kicked three goals to go with nearly 700m gained.
Christian Petracca of the Suns celebrates a goal with Mac Andrew. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Melbourne great Garry Lyon said his debut Suns output was as good as anything he produced at the Dees.
“It’s as good as I’ve seen him play,” he told Fox Footy.
Bailey Humphrey looks like a potential breakout star for the Suns, kicking four goals, while Coleman Medal fancy Ben King also kicked four.
For the Cats, Tanner Bruhn found 31 disposals in his first game since 2024. He sat out the entire 2025 season fighting sexual assault allegations.
Ollie Dempsey kicked four goals, finishing well in the last quarter, while James Worpel had 17 and laid 11 tackles in his first game in the hoops.
Smith had a quiet night, finding 23 disposals, but struggling for impact – as many Cats did.