AFL CEO Andrew Dillon meets with Bailey Smith after “nose beers” social media post

Bailey Smith will be fit to take on Essendon next week as Andrew Dillon reminded him of his responsibilities as a role model at a private Surf Coast fireside chat after some recent controversy.

Geelong superstar Bailey Smith will be fit to take on Essendon despite his late withdrawal from Saturday’s win in a week where Andrew Dillon reminded him of his responsibilities as a role model at a private Surf Coast fireside chat.

Smith missed Saturday night’s win with hamstring awareness but completed a training session to leave him well placed to take on Essendon.

AFL chief executive Dillon met with Smith and a cohort of Geelong leaders including coach Chris Scott, football boss Andrew Mackie and CEO Steve Hocking on Thursday afternoon.

Bailey Smith should return to face the Bombers. Picture: Janelle St Pierre/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Around a fire-pit chat that afternoon he made clear he was keen to forge closer relationships with the AFL’s star players in a year where he had regularly met the AFL’s senior coaches.

But he also made clear to Smith that his actions had consequences given his extraordinary reach as a social media star and Brownlow Medal contender.

The league had been aware that while he had pushed the boundaries with a series of one-fingered salutes, his reference to drug-taking on social media had pushed the envelope.

That reference to getting on the “nose beers” was deleted and the AFL did not penalise him.

But it was also the catalyst for Dillon to drive down the highway to meet Smith at his $4 million coastal pad to have an open conversation with the ex-Bulldogs star.

Dillon’s message was that he should be mindful not to stop showing his personality but that the kids who grow up with a No. 3 Geelong jumper on their backs will follow his every move and at times attempt to replicate it.

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon met with Smith last week. Picture: Michael Klein

Dillon was back on the highway in enough time to get to the Hawthorn-Western Bulldogs clash where prime minister Anthony Albanese was in attendance.

Cats coach Chris Scott has been critical of the AFL on several occasions this year but has also spoken with football boss Laura Kane about the club’s concerns.

The AFL is auditing Geelong’s third party payments but Smith’s own commercial relationship with Cats sponsor Cotton On has not increased in value since he moved from the Bulldogs to Geelong.

Geelong took care of business without the brilliant Smith, but coach Scott said post-match he was certain to return next week.

The Brownlow Medal contender has now missed two games to soft-tissue concerns but remains in exceptional form.

“We are very, very confident he will be fine next week. He has some lingering tightness post game,” Scott said.

“He got a cork late (to his) lateral quad and had some hamstring tightness/awareness.

“We had a shorter break coming off travel to Perth so it wasn’t until later in the week we were aware he wasn’t 100 per cent certain to play so he had a fitness test a few hours before the game and didn’t feel confident. Our tolerance with any player much less one like Bailey who depends so much on his running is low.

“He was good enough to train, not good enough to play which leads us to believe he will be fine for next week.”

Originally published as AFL CEO Andrew Dillon meets with Bailey Smith after “nose beers” social media post