Zach Tuohy laughs off Bailey Smith and says headbutts are a ‘rite of passage back home’

Geelong midfielder Zach Tuohy was all smiles after copping a Bailey Smith headbutt on Friday night, as the Irishman said the act was ‘a rite of passage back at home’ – but the brain explosion could be no laughing matter for the Bulldogs star. 

The Dogs were trailing 45-56 at three-quarter time when mid-forward Smith got into a heated exchange with the 32-year-old, thrusting his forehead into Tuohy’s face.

Bulldogs star Bailey Smith moments before he headbutted Cats veteran Zach Tuohy at three-quarter time in Geelong’s 83-70 Friday night win 

The 238-game veteran was seen clutching his face after the clash, with cameras showing a red gash above the Cats player’s eye, along with his torn jersey.

After the game, AFL great turned broadcaster Garry Lyon quizzed Tuohy about the biff-up. 

‘Nah, it was just handbags,’ Tuohy told Fox Footy. 

‘I think I was pulling and dragging at him as much as he was me, so there’s not much in it.

‘It’s a rite of passage back home every weekend.’

Cats’ midfielder Zach Tuohy clutches at his forehead after being on the receiving end of a Bailey Smith headbutt at three-quarter time

Tuohy and the 21-year-old Bulldog were laughing post-match, shaking hands after the Cats snatched a 83-70 victory.

The moment stunned Lyon, who said the brain-snap was not on.

‘We’re shaking our heads at the moment. We can’t believe what we’ve seen,’ he said just after the incident.

‘It’s so out of character for a young man who is almost the highest-profile footy player in the competition.

‘If you reckon this won’t be a story, stand by.’

Fellow Fox broadcaster and Brisbane Lions legend Johnathan Brown said Smith’s headbutt raised more questions than Lance Franklin’s open-hand hit on Richmond captain Trent Cotchin last week. 

‘I can’t think of any teammates that have done it. Costly, because he was fantastic in that quarter, Bailey Smith with his work rate. What’s the AFL going to say about that? They called Buddy Franklin’s act cowardly, that’s worse,’ Brown said. 

Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin strikes Tigers captain Trent Cotchin in the Swans huge 106-100 comeback win – the Sydney forward copped a one-game suspension

Franklin was dealt a one-match suspension for his strike on Cotchin that was labelled ‘cowardly’ by AFL legal counsel Andrew Woods.

Buddy’s offence wasn’t sent straight to the tribunal but that’s exactly what could happen to Smith, according to footy legend Gerard Healy.

‘It should go straight to the tribunal,’ he said on Fox Footy.

‘We’re assuming that (the mark on Tuohy’s face) was from the Liverpool kiss. If he (Smith) has taken that skin off from that action, he is in trouble.

‘If Buddy gets a week with a little slap, he is going to get more.’ 

Geelong’s Friday night win hoists the side to fourth on the ladder, while the Bulldogs move back to eighth. 

Smith and Tuohy finished the game with 19 disposals each, as Cats’ forward Jeremy Cameron stole the show with six goals – earning the Coleman medal.