Bailey Smith has had the last laugh over the Western Bulldogs after Geelong claimed a thrilling 20.7 (127) to 16.17 (113) win at a packed GMHBA Stadium on Thursday night.

The Brownlow contender was the headline attraction after leading the build-up to his first clash against his former teammates, and he didn’t shy away from the contest.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Bailey Smith gives Bulldogs another clip after game.

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The Cats were ahead by five goals before half-time but the lead slowly evaporated to the point that scores were level with just seven minutes remaining.

Geelong, though, came up trumps with Shannon Neale kicking his fourth and a career-best fifth to seal victory.

Jeremy Cameron led the way with six goals, all in the first three quarters, while Smith had a game-high 33 disposals, six clearances and seven tackles.

“You just can’t fault Bailey Smith,” Kane Cornes said on Channel 7 late in the third quarter.

“Honestly, to play the way that he has after the build-up, there would be a level of anxiety around this, everyone is talking about it.

“Every contest he has been involved in he has not flinched.”

Smith, who said he was prepared to cop it if the Cats lost, did not land any major shots in a post-match interview.

“I was privileged to be able to compete, as corny as that sounds. It’s always good facing off against these lads,” he said.

The 24-year-old also revealed he had multiple injections to get through the game with a shin injury.

Smith kicked off the hype with a drive-by at the Bulldogs three weeks ago, with his ex-captain Marcus Bontempelli playing into what former coach Luke Beveridge described as “interesting theatre”.

Bontempelli admitted at half-time there was a “little bit” of the silent treatment from the Bulldogs towards Smith.

“I think everyone wanted to get into the game, three weeks of build-up really and now we just play,” he said.

Smith believed his jabs in the build-up worked as “reserve psychology into not giving me any attention”.

“I certainly s*** myself for this game ... they didn’t go after me. Loved it, glad we beat them,” he said.

But it proved a feisty night with Smith clashing with Tom Liberatore late.

Channel 7’s Bec Maddern spotted Smith wearing ‘nasty’ scratches on his neck after the game.

“Probably Libba. They’re a bit flat but it’ll be good. I love this challenge and I’m keen for it for many more years to come,” he said.

“Hopefully I can beat them.”

Liberatore, who had 31 disposals and nine clearances of his own, played a straight bat when asked about what was said with Smith.

“Nothing much at all, just standard footy,” he said.

“It’s just another game, it’s not really that important. It’s his agenda, whatever he wants to do, talking in prior weeks.

“We just went out there and just had to do what we needed to do. Unfortunately couldn’t kick straight (to win).”