AFL world erupts over star's 'disgusting' act: 'What the hell'

Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith has landed himself in hot water after an alleged headbutt on Zach Tuohy in his side's loss to Geelong on Friday night.

Smith is facing the first suspension of his AFL career after being reported for headbutting the Geelong defender following a scuffle at three-quarter time.

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The 21-year-old, who missed last week's trip to Perth because of illness, was reported immediately by the umpires and is in danger of being ruled out of the Bulldogs' next game against GWS on June 18 after their bye.

After the pair grabbed each other by the jumpers following the three-quarter time siren, Tuohy walked away from the wrestle with a minor cut on his forehead.

Smith could be seen leaning towards Tuohy with his head before the Irishman reeled away and fell to the ground.

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge attempted to play down the incident.

"I'm aware that something's happened but I've got no detail," he said after the game.

"I've spoken to the group but I haven't spoken to him. If there's something that's happened then I'll be briefed on it at some point but hopefully there's nothing in it."

Tuohy said he spoke to Smith after the full-time siren, saying there was "all love at the end".

"Emotions were getting the better of both of us," Tuohy told Fox Footy.

"I think I was pulling and dragging at him as much as he was me, so there's not much in it."

Geelong coach Chris Scott joked about Tuohy finding himself in trouble.

"(Smith's) a star and 'Reg' (Tuohy) doesn't have a problem with it," Scott said.

However fans and commentators weren't as forgiving, condemning Smith.

“The old Liverpool kiss, we don’t see it very often,” Jonathan Brown said in commentary.

“What’s the AFL going to say about that? They called Buddy Franklin’s act cowardly. Jeez. that’s worse.”

Glenn McFarlane of the Herald Sun tweeted: “What the hell was he thinking?”

The Age’s Andrew Wu posted: “Bailey Smith is a smart player, but that’s not how to use your head.”

Jeremy Cameron stars in Geelong win over Bulldogs

Geelong survived a surging comeback from the slow-starting Bulldogs to escape with a gritty 13-point victory at Marvel Stadium.

The Cats raced out of the blocks by booting the opening six goals of Friday night's game to completely stun Beveridge's team.

But after slamming through seven first-quarter goals, Geelong's attacking options then completely dried up as the Bulldogs chipped away at the 40-point gap.

The Dogs got within five points early in the last quarter but star forward Jeremy Cameron stepped up to kick the decisive goals as Geelong prevailed 12.11 (83) to 10.10 (70).

Cameron was the difference in a contest when goals were hard to come by, slotting three and setting up another in the opening quarter to allow the Cats to storm out to a 33-point lead at the first break.

After going quiet, like his team during the second and third terms, Cameron came alive again in the final quarter to boot another three goals to finish with six.

Geelong's crucial win - their eighth of the season - allows them to head into the bye right in top-four contention.

"It was a really good win against a very good opposition who outplayed us for big parts of the night," Cats coach Scott said.

"The last four-to-six weeks we've been really undermanned and we've been really impressed as a coaching group with the resilience of the guys that have been out there."

with AAP

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