Bailey Smith, the Geelong midfielder, is set to part ways with his signature white Nike headband after receiving a ban from the AFL. During his first game in the Cats’ colours, where he wore a thick white headband with a prominent Nike logo, he caught the league’s attention for violating headgear regulations. Despite sporting various colourful Nike headbands throughout pre-season, including a salmon pink one, the AFL authorities issued a warning following a practice match against Hawthorn.
From their next pre-season match against Essendon, Smith will be required to flip the headband inside out, as the league stipulates that headbands must be unobtrusive and align with club colours. This rule echoes a previous case involving Jayden Hunt, who also faced restrictions for his headwear. The AFL’s logo regulations have sparked humorous reactions on social media, with fans questioning the inconsistency between headband and boot logo allowances.
Despite the off-field distraction, Smith expressed gratitude after finally returning to competitive play following 547 days away from the game, contributing to Geelong’s 20-point victory. Geelong’s assistant coach noted Smith’s anxiousness about returning, but they were pleased to see him perform well.