AFLPA, AFL views differ over Bailey Smith’s ‘nose beers’ social media comment

The AFLPA says it hopes personality won’t be stripped from players after the AFL warned it was not impressed with Bailey Smith’s response to a social media post referencing illicit drug use.

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has urged Geelong superstar Bailey Smith to stop joking about drug use after his “nose beers” comment on Instagram as the league’s discussions with Geelong over his online quip continue.

But AFLPA boss Paul Marsh said he did not want to strip the game of personalities and said Smith’s comments were “tongue in cheek”.

Dillon said on Tuesday the AFL did not “condone” players talking about drug use on social media, even if Smith was joking when he responded to a social media comment.

Asked if he had been on the “nose beers” after the game he replied: “na bro, after the flag maybe tho”.

Nose beers are slang for cocaine, with Smith having received a drugs strike after a photo emerged of him in 2022 taking an illicit substance.

Smith’s social media comment comes at a time when the AFL and player union are deep in discussions about a new illicit drugs policy with calls to harden the policy.

Bailey Smith received a drugs strike after a photo emerged of him taking an illicit substance in 2022.

Smith is currently Brownlow Medal favourite.

Dillon said the AFL was still working through its response to Smith’s comments.

“We are talking with Geelong and talking with Bailey and we wouldn’t want to see it again,” he said.

“Our players have got to be mindful whether they are in the public or on social media. They are in the public eye and they are role models. Particularly with social media players have to be mindful of how they use it. Whether they are posting or liking or messaging.

“But in relation to Bailey he delivered the comments, he put up an apology and I absolutely don’t condone it. Drug use is a serious thing and shouldn’t be joked about. If he has time again, I’m not sure he’d do it.”

But Marsh’s view was different to the league boss.

“Look, it’s not something we want glorified, illicit drugs. It’s not something that necessarily sits comfortably. But there is an element of him showing some personality,” Marsh said.

“I took it as something that was tongue-in-cheek. Maybe time again he wouldn’t do it but at the same we don’t want to take down a guy for actually showing personality when it’s getting more difficult to show personality when people do it.

Bailey Smith's Instagram response which has drawn the ire of the AFL.

“I am certainly not condoning it and if he has his time again maybe he wouldn’t go there. But it was more of a tongue-in-cheek comment in slightly bad taste.”

It comes with Geelong set to be fined for some minor late lodgements in relation to third party deals after an AFL audit.

It was revealed in March that Geelong was being audited by the league in what they described at time was “part of our annual salary cap compliance process” involving a number of clubs.

Rival clubs have privately queried Geelong’s links to third-party companies

Smith has a lucrative deal with club sponsor Cotton On but his deal was signed when he was at the Whitten Oval and has not lifted in value since he arrived at the Cats.

The Cats and Port Adelaide have been audited this year but those fines could be similar to $10,000-$20,000 fines handed to clubs including the Wesertn Bulldogs in recent years.

“The audit is ongoing. When it is finalised we will let the results be known,” Dillon said.

“Because it is ongoing I don’t want to go into details. I don’t think it’s fair to the people conducting the audit and the people who are the subject of it.”

Originally published as AFLPA, AFL views differ over Bailey Smith’s ‘nose beers’ social media comment