Geelong superstar Bailey Smith has fired a shot at the Western Bulldogs after contrasting experiences on Saturday.

His former team stormed to a 90-point win over Port Adelaide in front of just 4814 fans at Ballarat’s Mars Stadium, which has a reduced capacity this year while a new stand is built.

Hours later, the Cats celebrated a thrilling win over Collingwood with 82,154 fans inside the MCG — and the contrast was not missed on Smith even in the afterglow of victory.

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The 24-year-old was asked to speak on his first months at Geelong after being told he seems happy since his move from the Bulldogs over the off-season.

“Very grateful to be where I am. They’ve welcomed me with open arms so I’m just forever in debt to this club,” Smith told Fox Sports.

“I’ll keep working my arse off to repay them and I’m doing what I love doing, and that’s competing regardless if we win, lose or draw. I’m just happy, can’t really lose.”

Cameron Mooney replied: “How good is it, 82,000 versus Collingwood on a Saturday night at the ‘G — how good’s that?”

Smith jumped at the chance to compare it to his former teammates’ match earlier in the day.

“It’s beautiful, mate. Not getting that at Ballarat,” he said.

The remark prompted a reaction from the commentary box with Garry Lyon describing it as a “sting in the tail”.

“He just can’t help himself, can he?” Anthony Hudson laughed.

Smith’s remark comes less than three weeks before the Bulldogs visit Geelong to face the Cats in a Thursday night blockbuster, live and free on Channel 7 and 7plus Sport.

While he never played in front of more than 60,000 at the MCG in red, white and blue, the Dogs did bring 78,027 fans to the ground for a home game against Collingwood just six weeks ago.

But Smith has clearly enjoyed playing in front of 238,558 fans in the last three weeks — even if one was a well-entrenched public holiday fixture and two were Cats away games.

What cannot be denied is Smith’s form since pulling on the hoops.

After missing all of last season with an ACL injury, the midfielder has averaged a career-best 30 disposals this season and had 34 plus a goal on Saturday night.