UPDATE: Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith has been given a two-match suspension for his header to Geelong defender Zach Tuohy.
AFL party review officer Michael Christian said the incident was intentional with high contact and medium impact.
The incident occurred at the end of the third quarter of the Bulldogs’ 13-point loss to the Cats on Friday night, with Smith and Tuohy banging their heads and exchanging words before the 21-year-old Bulldog attacked with a nod.
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Smith was reported immediately after the incident, while Tuohy was left with a clear slit in the forehead.
Bailey Smith Headshot (Fox Footy)
It was a moment that surprised the legend of the Demons Garry Lyon later.
“We’re shaking our heads right now. We can’t believe what we’ve seen,” Garry Lyon told Fox Footy.
“He is so out of character for a young man that he is almost the highest profile football player in the competition.
“If you think it won’t be a story, wait.”
Lions legend Jonathan Brown, meanwhile, said Smith’s header was worse than Lance Franklin’s one-game sanction for beating Richmond’s Trent Cotchin.
Zach Tuohy’s forehead moments after the incident (Getty)
“Absolute brainwashing. The old Liverpool kiss. We don’t see it very often,” Brown said.
“I can’t think of any teammate who has done it. Expensive because he was great in that fourth Bailey Smith with his work pace. What will the AFL say about that? worse “.
The AFL did apologize to Franklin after his actions were described as “cowardly” when he appeared in court on Wednesday night.
While Smith and Tuohy waited for the match review officer’s findings, they both ended the night with a friendly hug after the final siren, seeming to bury the ax.
“Obviously, the emotions were winning over both of us,” Tuohy said after the match.
The bad blood between Tuohy and Smith didn’t go away, with the couple sharing a friendly hug after the game (Getty)
“I was pulling and dragging him as much as he was me, so there wasn’t much. When the game got so close and we had such a big advantage reduced to a small margin, the emotions got around and there was everything. love in the end “.
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge was asked about the incident, but said he had not yet seen the vision and was talking to Smith.
“I’m aware something has happened, but I don’t have any details and I haven’t seen it,” Beveridge said.
“I have not spoken to him. I have spoken to the group but not to anyone.
“If anything has happened, it will be reported at some point.”
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