2025 is set to be an exciting year for Geelong with the addition of running machine Bailey Smith to the line-up. Smith joined the Cats during the AFL’s recent trade period but rumours started swirling way before then that he was always heading down the highway due to his links to Cotton On. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Chris Scott speaks to 7NEWS.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Smith is a Cotton On ambassador and Geelong is sponsored by the fashion outlet. Needless to say, conspiracy theories emerged among AFL fans that the fix was on while he was recovering from an ACL injury. Speaking to 7NEWS, coach Chris Scott addressed those links and also scoffed at them.
Geelong and Cotton On officially united in 2016, while Smith was drafted by the Western Bulldogs with pick No.7 in 2018. “And with the Bailey (theory) with Cotton On .
.. we really are playing the long game given the length of the relationship between Bailey and Cotton On,” Scott said.
Scott said it was “exciting” for the club to acquire a player of Smith’s talents but he was conscious that the 23-year-old had missed an entire season of football due to an ACL injury. “We need to be careful that we don’t put too much expectation on him,” Scott said. “And we don’t push him too hard too early.
“It’s already clear to anyone who knows him even casually that he’s got a really strong work ethic which is obviously a good thing. “But we’ve got plenty of time between now and Round 1 to .
