- Journalist recently exposed Bailey Smith
Respected footy reporter Lauren Wood has shared some online abuse she copped after she exposed AFL star Bailey Smith for his vicious rant directed towards a female photographer.
Wood, who is employed by News Corp, was at GMHBA Stadium on September 10 when Geelong star Smith launched into a tirade aimed at veteran snapper Alison Wynd.
Smith was adamant Wynd was ‘baiting’ him during a training session.
At the time, the midfielder, 24, was being treated by club medical staff and he felt his privacy had been breached.
He demanded Wynd delete the photos, which she refused to do.
Wynd, who has been with the Geelong Advertiser for 25 years, later said she was ‘rattled’ by the incident.
Respected footy reporter Lauren Wood has shared some online abuse she copped on X after she exposed Bailey Smith’s recent rant at a female photographer
Smith was adamant Geelong Advertiser photographer Alison Wynd was ‘baiting’ him during a Cats training session (pictured)
An irate Smith demanded Wynd – a photographer at the Geelong Advertiser for 25 years – delete the photos, which she refused to do
Wynd later said she was ‘rattled’ by the incident – and when Wood later filed a story on the saga, some Cats fans were seething on X (pictured)
Another supporter told Wood to stay away from Geelong games, players and fans after she supposedly ‘declared war’ on the Cats
This supporter bluntly suggested Wood should solely cover the AFLW competition and ‘let the men be men’
Fellow footy journalist Anna Harrington tweeted her support for Wood, correctly pointing out she is merely doing her job
Wood later filed a story on the Smith saga, leaving some Cats fans seething.
She shared a series of threatening tweets she has since received on X ahead of Geelong tackling Hawthorn on September 19 in a Preliminary Final at the MCG.
‘Don’t you dare come near any Geelong games…you have declared war, we will finish it,’ posted one ‘fan’ ominously.
‘The level of Geelong hatred and the pathetic takes from you Lauren and other scum media is staggering,’ said another.
‘Lauren Wood is a sexist p**ck who represents the lowest form of a journalist! We will never forgive or forget the deliberate attack on the Geelong Football Club,’ a third weighed in with.
A fourth bluntly posted: ‘How about you go and watch the AFLW and let the men be men.’
It also comes after Geelong coach Chris Scott recently acted in an aggressive manner towards a junior female AFL staff member at the MCG, who later broke down in tears.
Scott was reportedly triggered by the presence of visually impaired media identity Matt ‘Spider’ Lee at his post-match MCG press conference following the Cats’ qualifying final win over Brisbane on September 5.
Lee, 45, has an accredited media pass.
He is legally blind and suffers from a hereditary eye condition.
Geelong is yet to explain why Scott was upset about Lee’s presence – or what was said between the dual premiership coach and the junior AFL staffer.
A Cats spokesperson has since confirmed Lee is welcome to attend all future press conferences.
