‘Unacceptable’: Bailey Smith handed official AFL warning over social media behaviour

Geelong superstar Bailey Smith has been warned about his social media behaviour after his latest act, which has since been deleted, went too far.

The AFL has reportedly warned Geelong that polarising star midfielder Bailey Smith must rein in his social media escapades or face the consequences.

Smith has been in the headlines constantly in 2025, largely for a string of bad behaviour, including the insinuation he used cocaine, flipping fans the bird and several instances of taking vile swipes at the media.

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Most recently, his behaviour on Geelong’s Mad Monday led to the club stating they will cease to occur after he posted a picture with Max Holmes – who was dressed as AFL reporter Caroline Wilson – and took a vulgar swipe at the veteran journalist in the caption. It came on the back of Wilson criticising his recent behaviour.

Smith then also shared a clip of club legend Sam Newman verbally attacking Wilson on The Footy Show nearly a decade ago.

And The Age reports on Monday afternoon, the league has finally said enough is enough.

Bailey Smith has been warned about his social media behaviour. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Smith has spent more weeks in than out of the headlines in 2025, with Wilson not the only one whom Smith has targeted in 2025.

During Geelong’s finals run last month, the 24-year-old verbally abused photographer Alison Wynd before texting her an apology.

The Age reports that while each incident involving the midfielder in recent times doesn’t deserve a sanction, the cumulation of such offences has the AFL worried, and therefore felt the right course of action was to contact Geelong and issue a final warning.

It comes after earlier this month, Hocking told SEN: “Mad Monday is absolutely on all of us. There is a range of people who were part of that. There are certain individuals who dressed up inappropriately. We have apologised for that, particularly to Caro (Caroline Wilson), it was unacceptable how that was rolled out and treated.”

“There will be a time in my view this will involve all of us in the off-season where by we need to (talk to him). It’s not about tiptoeing around someone like Bailey but more about tailoring it accordingly”

In his maiden year at Geelong, Smith enjoyed a career-best season, which saw him finish on the podium at the 2025 Brownlow Medal.