The AFL’s messaging for Geelong star Bailey Smith borders on pathetic
There have been fireside chats and lame warnings, but the lack of any real accountability for Bailey Smith has become clear for all to see.
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It’s becoming painfully clear that AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon could do with finding some backbone when it comes to Bailey Smith.
The Geelong midfielder, who turns 25 in December, had an outstanding 2025 on the field, claiming a first All-Australian nod and finishing third in the Brownlow Medal count.
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But the blond star made as many headlines off the field as he did on it during his first season with the Cats, mostly for negative behaviour on social media.
The signs were there as far back as May when he used the platform to make an insinuation he used cocaine – having already been banned for illicit drug use back in 2022 – and more recently to fire a number of vulgar shots at Caroline Wilson.
Smith then got in another beef with Mark Robinson, after the former AFL reporter labelled Smith’s Instagram post with Max Holmes dressed as Wilson “one of the most disgusting things I’ve seen a player do”.
He was also accused of homophobia after captioning a photo with Geelong skipper Patrick Dangerfield “brokeback mountain” in a post that was later deleted.
The only response the Cats made was a weak announcement their Mad Monday parties wouldn’t continue in their “current form”, which may well insinuate they will continue in identical form moving forward, just without media or mobile phones.
There were plenty more incidents involving Smith that weren’t directly using social media, including abusing a female photographer at Geelong training for simply doing her job and twice copping fines for flipping the bird at rival fans.
After the Mad Monday firestorm, Geelong chief executive Steve Hocking effectively demonstrated the club would do absolutely nothing to rein in Smith, almost jokingly conceding social media is something he “doesn’t understand at all”.
He then claimed “it’s not about tiptoeing around someone like Bailey, but more about tailoring it accordingly”.
We’re not clear on exactly what “it” is, but zero punishment and an attempt to “tailor” the relationship sure sounds like tiptoeing to this reporter.
Which brings us to Dillon.
The AFL boss and Hocking had a meeting at Smith’s home way back in June, after the “nose beers” social media controversy, which again ended up with a cuddly, “fireside” tone rather than any serious threats over his conduct.
Quizzed after that meeting became public knowledge, Geelong coach Chris Scott continued the easygoing theme with Smith.
“We’re loving having him. Even these things are so minor in my opinion,” he said.
“Players love him. Staff love him. It’s been good fun to have him around the place.”
Once again, it’s all “good fun” and a distinct lack of actual accountability.
So is it any surprise Smith pushed on with his poor actions off the field after being swiped with those wet lettuce leaves?
The AFL finally contacted Geelong last week and suggested it was time for Smith to curb his behaviour or the league would intervene.
Better very, very late than never, we suppose.
Dillon was then asked about Smith this week and offered a warning the former Bulldog needs to meet league “standards” or risk facing sanctions.
Yet Dillon still appeared to be taking a back seat and playing the diplomat when repeating the midfielder’s antics are “for the club to handle”.
If the Cats won’t act, surely the AFL would step up?
Dillon then reiterated the league would get involved if his “behaviours went any further”.
“Ultimately, the decision is for the club to handle,” Dillon told reporters in Perth.
“But I think that (warning to the Cats) was putting the club and Bailey on notice that if the behaviours went any further, then it might get to a stage where the AFL has to tip in.
“Bailey is a super footballer. He’s great for the game. But there are standards that all of our players and everyone who’s involved in the industry have to adhere to.
“Bailey is a 23 to 24-year-old. He can make his own decisions.
“I think he’s got some great leaders around him at the club who are all working with him.”
Wow, cop that Bailey.
“If the behaviours went any further, then it might get to a stage” is about as firm as a Zooper Dooper left out in the spring sun.
Smith has previously spoken out about his battles with mental health, which is a courageous and admirable move.
But does that mean he gets to act however he pleases with no real repercussions? Surely not.
Smith was a revelation on the field in 2025, but a disaster off it after so many distasteful moments that brought negative publicity to his club and his sport, right Chris Scott?
“If you separate out the off-field issues, that is probably the best way to describe it – and we think through how the last 12 months have gone with Bailey – it has been an outrageous success,” Scott said last week.
“Outrageous. Not perfect. But if you were privy to some of the information with a whole range of players, I think it is likely that is going to be a similar sort of description.
“Some bits have gone really, really well and there are other bits we sort of have to nudge and manage a little bit, but that is all it is. It is a nudge here or there.
“I refuse to buy into the idea there is some serious or major work to be done. I don’t think that is true.”
Just a “nudge here or there”, that’s all. Yeah right.
So misogynistic and homophobic comments, an inference of drug use, abusing a female photographer and scores of opposition supporters – most of which came after a chat with the boss’ of the AFL and his own club – still resulted in a season of “outrageous success”.
It begs the questions, what would Smith actually have to do to earn any punishment and why would he curtail his ways?
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