Geelong Cats mad Monday: Bailey Smith’s Brokeback Mountain joke, Max Holmes mocks journalist Caroline Wilson

Bailey Smith has stirred fresh controversy after sharing two Instagram stories that poked fun at veteran Channel Seven journalist Caroline Wilson and joked about his costume resembling a scene from Brokeback Mountain.

The Geelong midfielder turned up to the Cats’ Mad Monday celebrations dressed as Brad Pitt’s character from the hit movie Legends of the Fall.

On his way in, a grinning Smith told reporters he hadn’t “sunk piss all weekend, so I’m due.”

Once inside, Smith posted an Instagram story alongside skipper Patrick Dangerfield, who came dressed as a character from Yellowstone. Smith captioned the clip: “or brokeback mountain depends how ya look at it” and “this is what losing a granny does to ya.”

His teammate Max Holmes also dressed up, parodying The Agenda Setters panellist Wilson with a wig, a dress, and her former segment “Caro’s Arrow” from Footy Classified.

Smith later added a photo with Holmes, captioning it “Caro has never looked better,” before quickly deleting the post. Despite telling teammates “alright phone away,” in multiple Instagram stories, Smith uploaded another video zooming in on Holmes in costume.

Wilson has been critical of Geelong and Smith’s behaviour throughout the season, most recently when he abused a female photographer at a training session and after coach Chris Scott left a junior female AFL staffer in tears following a blow-up following a press conference in the first week of the finals.

Speaking to reporters as he arrived at the Wharf Shed in Geelong, Smith said: “Brad Pitt’s got me covered, we just changed down there in the car and ready to go, ready to pin the ears back. It’s a big day, got to carry the votes, ready to go. Haven’t sunk piss all weekend, so I’m due.”

The antics come only weeks after Smith apologised to Geelong Advertiser journalist Alison Wynd for verbally abusing her earlier this month.

Other Cats embraced the theme of the day with gags at Smith’s expense, including Ollie Dempsey and Sam De Koning, who rocked up in an Aston Martin with a ‘Cotton On’ number plate and brown paper bags in hand.

“We just came from home basically with what we usually wear, just drove in our usual car,” De Koning joked, before adding when asked about the bags: “Oh, don’t look at that! My pockets weren’t big enough.”

Smith shared re-shared the 7AFL post of Dempsey and De Koning with the caption, “we’re taking the chopper in next year @charliecurnow,” before taking it down minutes later.

Dempsey and De Koning’s stunt was poking fun at the unfounded but seemingly constant speculation surrounding Geelong’s salary cap.

Dangerfield and Rhys Stanley kept things more low-key, arriving with “Dangerfield Ranch” branded on the car door and wearing Yellowstone-themed gear.

“If you’re going to lose, lose well,” Dangerfield said with a laugh.

“Rhys and I went for what’s going to be comfortable, what can be commercialised – thanks RM Williams, and that’s about it.”

“It’s a tough way for (the season) to end, you definitely want to be there – you definitely want to be in that last game. It’s hard to answer questions seriously with an acubra and sunnie,” Stanley added with a grin.

Brad Close came as the Cats’ cult superfan Catman, Shannon Neale donned a Mexican-themed costume in tribute to his family’s tequila tradition after kicking goals, while more players dressed as everything from South Park characters to Smurfs.