One of the AFL’s most hardcore footy fans has taken to social media to share several pictures with Geelong star Bailey Smith, including one very bizarre photoshopped image of the Cats midfielder.
Troy ‘Catman’ West is one of the club’s most recognisable supporters and is regularly seen at matches sporting some very exuberant costumes and elaborate makeup designs, depicting himself as a cat.
The footy fan has taken to the social media platform Threads in recent months to share snaps of his life following the Cats.
One of the pictures showed him tucking into a carton of cat food, as he looked to truly embody the life of a feline in homage to his beloved Geelong.
Among the snaps was also a photoshopped image of Smith appearing to be flying like Superman over Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium.
The image showed a Geelong player who had Smith’s face placed onto it, suspended in mid air, with the player raising both of their index fingers.
Troy ‘Catman’ West has published a bizarre photoshopped image of Bailey Smith on Threads
He appeared to photoshop the Geelong star’s head onto an image of a Geelong player flying over Melbourne’s docklands, while wearing a Superman cape
The Catman is renowned for his bold support for Geelong, with the fan dressing up in extravagent outfits while donning elaborate blue and white cat inspired makeup
A red cape was also cropped onto the image, akin to the red cloak Superman typically wears.
The post also had the caption ‘Up up and away, it’s SuperBaz.’
Catman has also published several snaps of himself posing with the Geelong fan favourite. In one image, he added the caption: ‘When Bailey Smith takes your camera off you and takes a selfie. He’s just the best!!’
It comes after Catman has opened up a discussion with former Geelong star Sam Newman over whether the Cats should be allowed to play finals matches at home.
The discussion comes amid concerns that Chris Scott’s side has been denied the chance to play a finals match at home in recent years. Their last and only ever finals match at Kardinia Park was played back in 2013, where the Cats were beaten in a qualifying final by Fremantle.
It is understood that a contract that requires finals matches taking place in Victoria in weeks one, two and three of the series to be played at the MCG.
With Geelong currently sitting fourth in the ladder, the club could once again snag itself a home final this series. However, recent reports state that the Cats are ‘increasingly resigned’ to playing their home finals elsewhere.
And while Newman suggested that ‘home ground advantage was irrelevant’ and that Geelong shouldn’t worry about playing away from the GMHBA, Catman disagreed.
Catman has also published several snaps of himself posing with Smith over the past few months
He paid tribute to the footy star, writing in one post: ‘When Bailey Smith takes your camera off you and takes a selfie!!! He’s just the best’
His loyal and devoted support for the Cats has also seen him go as far as sitting down at a restaurant and tucking into a carton of cat food
‘Of course we should,’ he wrote, in an article published in The Geelong Advertiser.
‘It’s unfair and feels like we’re being treated like the smaller country cousin,’ he added.
‘We are a powerhouse destination club and win games and deserve a fair system that treats all of us the same. Your home ground is your home ground.’
Catman, meanwhile, recently took to social media to correct fans after he revealed he was covering up his Hindu symbol tattoo with a ‘black sun’.
Some on social media claimed that his Hindu symbol was a swastika, but the Geelong fan accused them of being ignorant, before explaining the symbol’s real meaning.
‘To the fwits saying I have/ had a Nazi tattoo design,’ he wrote.
‘Pardon your ignorance, but the swastika is a 3000-year-old ancient symbol and I was with the Hari Krishnas (sic) back in the 90s and my tattoo is Hindu and it means good fortune, good luck and good health.
‘Only dumb, ignorant trolls think it’s a Nazi symbol.’
West, meanwhile, has some big links to the footy club through his father, Roy West.
Roy played for the club between 1961 and 1964 before returning to play for Geelong in 1966 and 1967. He would make 108 appearances for the club as a fullback and win the 1963 flag with the side, while also being crowned the Cats’ best and fairest in 1961.
Roy also made two appearances for Victoria during his playing career.
