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“Abusing and disrespecting women”: Russell calls out Smith and Geelong
Dwayne Russell • October 23rd, 2025 10:21 am
Bailey Smith should have been fined for abusing the photographer and suspended.
They fined Ken Hinkley $20,000 for the airplane gesture and nothing for Smith for what he did.
This could have been a Chris Scott praising segment depending on what he said in his press conference.
He said he didn’t buy into the social media world so didn’t comment about what Smith did to Caro Wilson. He did say he didn’t like the dress up, but he refused to buy into the thought that there is an issue with Smith.
Is part of the way you solve a problem – personally or publicly – admitting you have got one? I don’t think they realise just how big of a problem Smith is.
Maybe Scott is right, and they don’t have much to fix (but) they have a problem ahead if they don’t have some stern words pretty quickly.
The AFL should have fixed this with a suspension or fine when he abused the photographer. If a kid sees Smith get away with what he’s getting away with, of course they’re going to idolise him.
There needs to be a level of decorum and accountability with players – a level you don’t stoop below. We’re not asking them to solve world peace but we’re asking them not to dip below a line.
With the money and the profile comes more responsibility. We’re talking millions of dollars.
We are all in a position to be calling this stuff out – in the workplace especially. It’s all of our responsibility to call this out.
If you can’t see that respect for women in society is an issue that needs to be addressed and that it’s an issue for men and society to call it out, then I don’t think you’re seeing the real world.
I need to show a level of respect to Smith, he might be treating people poorly, but we don’t have to treat him poorly. We do have to call out what he does in his workplace and address it.
We don’t want to have a go specifically as the person and we have to be cautious of his own issues. But a snapper going to an open session and getting abused for taking a photo of him on the field – she is doing her job.
I have a daughter in the workplace. She is a pilot. It might be funny the first time when people say ‘oh a female pilot’, but when derogatory remarks get thrown at her, it's not funny. Have some respect.
That’s what we need to do in general. Have some a lot more respect for women than we had in the 70s, 80s and 90s.
Geelong has been given preferential treatment by the AFL.
