Western Bulldogs players partied away the pain of their heartbreaking AFL Grand Final loss against the Melbourne Demons in Perth over the weekend.
On Sunday, the entire team headed out to the Ocean Beach Hotel at Cottesloe Beach to enjoy a few drinks and laughs.
In a particularly upbeat mood was midfielder Bailey Smith, who gave an enthusiastic double thumbs up as he arrived for the festivities.
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What loss? Western Bulldogs players partied away the pain of their heartbreaking AFL Grand Final loss on Sunday
Moments later, the 20-year-old with footy’s most outrageous mullet turned the gesture into playful raised middle fingers.
The number seven 2018 AFL draft pick went casual for the afternoon, wearing a faded black jumper with denim shorts and dirty sneakers.
On the day, TikTok user @brodeeezy posted a video from the bar in which Bailey Smith could be seen swarmed by female fans.
In the clip, he debunks a ‘nude’ picture of himself circulating the internet.
‘That’s the actual photo,’ Smith said, as he showed two ladies an image of himself shirtless, reclined while wearing shorts.
Lads: The entire team head out to the Ocean Beach Hotel at Cottesloe Beach in Perth to enjoy a few drinks and laughs after losing the grand final to the Melbourne Demons the night before
Attention: Later, TikTok user @brodeeezy posted a video from a bar in which Bailey Smith could be seen swarmed by female fans. In the video, the athlete appeared to be debunking a ‘nude’ of himself circulating the internet
Undoctored: The original image (above) is said to have been doctored to appear as though Bailey is completely nude. Smith made light of the situation on Sunday and posted the original photo on his Instagram Stories along with an eggplant emoji
Runners up: Almost six decades of premiership heartache ended on Saturday for the Melbourne Demons after they staged an incredible fightback against the Western Bulldogs
The original image is said to have been doctored to appear as though Bailey is completely nude.
Smith made light of the situation on Sunday and posted the original picture on his Instagram Stories along with an eggplant emoji.
Meanwhile, the team’s inspirational captain, Marcus Bontempelli, was spotted having a few laughs with his teammates in the hotel’s beer garden.
The gang arrives: Also at the team commiserations were stars Easton Wood, Jack Macrae, Josh Schache, Toby McLean, Cody Weightman, Aaron Naughton, Roarke Smith, Jason Johannisen, Hayden Crozier and Adam Treloar
Far from home: The grand final was held in Perth for the first time in front of a sell-out crowd of 61,118 fans at Optus Stadium
Oh captain my captain: The team’s inspirational captain Marcus Bontempelli (pictured left) could be spotted enjoying a few laughs with his teammates in the hotel’s beer garden
The Bont: Marcus is affectionately known by his nickname ‘The Bont’
Up and away: The 25-year-old midfielder at one point flicked a drink card off the rooftop patio area to fans below, to the amusement of onlookers
High honour: Marcus was once famously played by Chris Hemsworth is an ad promoting AFL around the world
The 25-year-old midfielder at one point flicked a drink card off the rooftop patio area to fans below, much to the amusement of onlookers.
Also at the team commiserations were stars Easton Wood, Jack Macrae, Josh Schache, Toby McLean, Cody Weightman, Aaron Naughton, Roarke Smith, Jason Johannisen, Hayden Crozier and Adam Treloar.
The Western Bulldogs suffered a heartbreaking grand final loss to the Melbourne Demons in Perth on Saturday night.
Eligible bachelor: Despite his high profile as one of the country’s best footy players, Bontempelli has never gone public with a relationship
Close second: Bontempelli narrowly missed out on his sport’s highest honour earlier this month, with the athlete finishing just two points behind winner Ollie Wines in the Brownlow Medal count
Almost six decades of premiership heartache ended on Saturday for the Dees after they staged an incredible fightback against the Doggies in the AFL grand final on a historic night for the code.
The game was held in Perth for the first time in front of a sell-out crowd of 61,118 fans at Optus Stadium in an action-packed AFL Grand Final.
The Demons claimed their first premiership flag in 57 years after a stunning third quarter fightback saw them turn a 19 point deficit into a 24 point lead with seven unanswered goals against their shellshocked opponents.
So close: The Melbourne-born star ended up with 34 points, while Port Adelaide star Wines garnered 36
The good son: Bontempelli took his mother, Geraldine, to the Brownlow in 2016
Leader: Bontempelli this year said he expected his players to adapt to likely having to cut back on social activities amid the Covid pandemic – having previously worked under stricter protocols than the general public
The Demons then ran rampant in the fourth quarter, with five more unanswered goals before running out 21.14 (140) to 10.6 (66) winners.
The Demons were already celebrating before a goal after the siren put the icing on the cake of a famous 74 point victory.
Demons skipper Max Gawn and Norm Smith Medallist Christian Petracca dedicated the famous victory to their long suffering fans stuck in lockdown back home in Melbourne.
Cutting loose: ‘It is probably a bit of a natural instinct to think you’ve got to probably tease back some of the social outings or activities, obviously masks and things all come back,’ said Marcus at the time
Unrestricted: However given the Melbourne team were in far less restricted Western Australia, the Bulldogs all went mask-free for the social outing
‘It is a long time coming,’ Gawn told Channel Seven moment afterwards.
‘My heart goes to everyone in the eastern states at home watching this.’
Petracca added: I actually can’t speak right now. It feels like a dream.
‘It is quite unbelievable. We set out pre-season and the off-season to get this club back to where it should be.
‘For every fan that is what to home, we bloody did it!’
Heartbreak: The Western Bulldogs suffered a heartbreaking grand final loss to the Melbourne Demons in Perth on Saturday night
Petracca was awarded the Norm Smith Medal as the best player on the ground with two goals and a grand final record of 40 disposals.
Bayley Fritsch became the first player since Adelaide Crows’ Darren Jarman in 1997 to kick six goals in a grand final.
The Demons celebrated with fans on a lap of Optus Stadium and Facetimed recently retired 302-game club veteran Nathan Jones, who was celebrating back home with a can of beer.
Steamrolled: Almost six decades of premiership heartache ended on Saturday for the Dees after they staged an incredible fightback against the Doggies in the AFL grand final on a historic night for the code
Action-packed: The game was held in Perth for the first time in front of a sell-out crowd of 61,118 fans at Optus Stadium in an action-packed AFL Grand Final
Jones returned to Melbourne two weeks ago to be with his wife for the birth of their twins.
Many of the players have been separated from their partners and young children for weeks.
Just eight years ago, the Demons won two games all season and were the laughing stock of the AFL.
‘My first game, we got beaten by 80 points,’ Jack Viney recalled.
‘Second game, we had 150 supporters throw their scarves at us. We were the laughing stock of the competition.’
‘Now we’ve won a premiership, for the first time in God knows how long.’
‘I don’t think it is going to fully sink in until we get out of the crowd and take a step back.’
Overwhelmed: The Demons ran rampant in the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game, with five more unanswered goals before running out 21.14 (140) to 10.6 (66) winners