AFL 2022: Adam Treloar addresses Bailey Smith‘s return to training following illicit drug ban
Bailey Smith was the first to admit he’d made a mistake and to talk about his issues post the 2021 grand final according to teammate Adam Treloar.
AFL
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Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith has returned to the club for the first time following his illicit drug ban.
Smith looked fit and appeared in good spirits when he joined a handful of teammates on the training track for a light session at the Whitten Oval on Friday morning.
The pin-up boy managed give the media pack the slip, using a side entry to bypass the waiting cameras before appearing on the field with the players on the way back from injury.
The bulk of his teammates were not at the club as they were travelling to Sydney for their clash with the GWS Giants on Saturday.
He returned to the club on Friday after learning of his fate the previous day.
The AFL on Thursday handed Smith a two-week ban for conduct unbecoming after he was caught on video snorting cocaine on a Gold Coast bender last October.
Smith will be back playing AFL in round 18 at the earliest after serving a two-match ban for headbutting and then the AFL penalty.
He was not fined.
Bulldogs star Adam Treloar said on Friday that Smith had the full support of his teammates.
“I have (reached out) and I think most of the boys have reached out (to him),” Treloar said on SEN.
“He was the first to admit he made a mistake and he spoke about the struggles he’s gone through, especially post the grand final.
“He’s been the first one to come out and talk about that, which I give him credit for doing that.
“All we can really do is support him and give him love and a shoulder to lean on, which we have done.
“When he comes back into the footy club and we see him, we’ll make him feel well and truly apart of it because he is.
“Everyone makes mistakes and it’s just unfortunate the way it’s happened, so we’re just a shoulder for him to lean on.
“We’re looking forward to seeing him when we get back from Sydney.”
Suspended Smith returns to kennel
Western Bulldogs star Bailey Smith has returned to the club following his illicit drug ban.
Smith joined a handful of teammates on the training track at the Whitten Oval on Friday morning.
The bulk of his teammates were not at the club as they are travelling to Sydney for their clash with the GWS Giants on Saturday.
The AFL on Thursday handed Smith a two-week ban for conduct unbecoming after he was caught on video snorting cocaine on a Gold Coast bender last October.
Smith will be back playing AFL in round 18 at the earliest after serving a two-match ban for headbutting and then the AFL penalty.
He has not been fined.
Smith learns AFL punishment for drug use
Jon Ralph
The AFL has handed Bailey Smith a two-week ban for conduct unbecoming on Thursday after he was caught on video snorting cocaine on a Gold Coast bender last October.
Smith will be back playing AFL in round 18 at the earliest after serving a two-match ban for headbutting and then the AFL penalty.
He has not been fined.
In a statement the AFL said: “Smith committed a breach of AFL Rule 2.3(a), which states; A Person must not engage in conduct which is unbecoming or likely to prejudice the interests or reputation of the AFL or to bring the game of football into disrepute.
“The AFL wishes to reiterate that AFL Players are well-educated when it comes to the harms associated with the use of illicit substances, and have a responsibility to themselves, their clubs and their professional careers to uphold community expectations.”
Western Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains said Smith had “assumed unqualified responsibility” and the club would continue to support him during his suspension period.
“Bailey has shown clear contrition and remorse over recent days, and has spoken openly and maturely about his challenges,” Bains said.
“As we have stated, we do not condone the behaviour in question and remain very disappointed it occurred.”
Sydney’s Shane Mumford was fined $25,000 as well as handed a two-match ban in 2018 for cocaine use but when Brad Crouch was caught with cocaine in 2020 he dodged a fine to go with his two-week ban.
Tyson Stengle was caught alongside Crouch and received a four-week ban given a recent drink-driving episode as well as a $2500 fine.
The league’s integrity investigators met with Smith on Tuesday to grill him on a photo where the Dogs star held a bag of white powder and a nightclub video.
But as reported by the Herald Sun, Smith was prepared to make a full admission that he used cocaine and was the person in the video sniffing a substance then wiping his nose.
While Smith could have denied the charges given they do not explicitly show him snorting cocaine he made a full apology on Saturday for his behaviour.
Smith went off the rails in a period after the Grand Final, admitting he could barely get out of bed to train or even brush his teeth.
But he says there was no excuse for his behaviour that has improved significantly after he spent time away from football accessing professional help for his mental health issues.
Smith will also receive a drugs strike under the AFL’s illicit drugs code, which means if he is caught again with illicit drugs in the next four years he would be suspended for four years.
The suspension follows two-week bans handed down to Adelaide’s Brad Crouch (who is now at St Kilda) and GWS ruckman Shane Mumford after they admitted to drug use.
Mumford was caught on video snorting a white powder while Crouch was caught by police with cocaine in his possession.
Smith will attempt to keep his fitness high so he can return and play in round 18 in what would be his first AFL game in six weeks since round 12.
His apology saw him take full responsibility for his actions in Queensland in a period from October-December.
“I have recently been made aware of the presence of social media content that shows me with an illicit substance,” Smith said in a statement on Saturday.
“In confronting this, the temptation is to speak in vague generalities and avoid the issue. However, I am determined to learn the lessons of my past and be a better person in the future.
“After much reflection, I am now in a position to confess to indulging in behaviours in late 2021 of which I am deeply ashamed.
“I do not have an excuse for those behaviours, however the state of my mental health over that period post-grand final dramatically deteriorated, and I spiralled out of control leading to poor decision-making and actions at the time.
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