AFL star Bailey Smith has stunned the sporting world with two confessions that have earned him another nomination for The Frownlow Medal.
The Frownlow Medal is awarded to the player whose off-field demeanour epitomises the values of the modern-day footballer and draws attention to the status of footballers as role models to young Australians. It covers Australia’s four major football codes: the men’s and women’s National Rugby League (NRL), Australian Football League (AFL), the A-League (Football) and Rugby Union’s Super Rugby competition. NRL player Shaun Kenny-Dowall won the inaugural medal in 2015, while NRL star Ezra Mam is the most recent recipient.
Smith recently confessed to being camera shy and hinted that he is ready to come out of the closet.
In the lead up to Geelong’s appearance in the 2025 AFL Grand Final, Smith swore at a female sports photographer who had been invited to an open training session by the Cats. Smith reportedly flipped the bird at Alison Wynd and unleashed expletives at her for taking his photo.
The experienced photojournalist claims this is the first time any footballer has argued with her while she photographed them and that Smith has done it more than once.
Admitting to being camera shy came as a huge shock to Smith’s 400,000 social media followers. Perhaps he prefers women to fawn over him.
During Geelong’s huge loss to Brisbane in the final, Bailey performed below par and experts believe he may have been put off by all of the camera’s snapping at the MCG.
Following the Grand Final, Smith made an even more surprising revelation. The ‘chick magnet’ suggested he may be preparing to come out of the closet after posting a photo of himself embracing teammate Patrick Dangerfield during Mad Monday celebrations with the caption…
“Or brokeback mountain depends how ya look at it,”
“This is what losing a granny does to ya.”
The comment was blasted as homophobic, and his comments about a female sport journalist were also criticised for being inappropriate.
The social media star earned a previous Frownlow nomination for yet another social media faux pas. An image posted in 2022 showed him holding a small bag of an unknown white powder and smiling at the camera. There was no evidence that Smith in any way touched or consumed the powder, or exactly what was contained in the bag.
Smith is obviously desperate to win The Frownlow Medal in 2025 as it would do wonders for his socials.
Image: AAP James Ross
The Frownlow Medal 