Geelong star Gryan Miers refutes suggestions Bailey Smith has been a distraction for his teammates

A Geelong star has leapt to the defence of teammate Bailey Smith after claims Cats players were angry with his antics. Gryan Miers says said he has made football “a lot better”.

Geelong’s Gryan Miers, with Bailey Smith, is helped from the ground by medicos after being cleaned up by Conor Nash in Round 6. Picture: Michael Klein

Geelong star Gryan Miers has rubbished reports Bailey Smith’s on and off-field behaviour had created a distraction for the Cats.

The former Western Bulldog has been fined three times this season, for flipping the bird on two occasions and slamming a ball into the face of Hawthorn opponent, Jarman Impey in Round 6 at the MCG.

Then, following a controversial response to a social media comment about “nose beers” after the Cats’ hugely anticipated match against the Dogs, AFL boss Andrew Dillon sought a circuit-breaker by attending Smith’s property for a fireside chat last Thursday with Geelong’s top brass in Chris Scott, Andrew Mackie and Steve Hocking.

However, on Monday morning, Miers hosed down reports the ex-Dog had been a distraction for his teammates.

Gryan Miers has been in exceptional form for the Cats. Picture: Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

“Not at all,” Miers said.

“Bailey’s been a fantastic teammate since he’s come to the club, he just brings so much energy.

“He loves his footy. That’s the biggest thing for me, you want players to play with absolute passion for the game, passionate about winning, passionate about getting better, and he brings all those attributes to the table.

“He’s been so good, so loving and caring and the best part is I think he’s received that back, he’s really been able to be himself ... have some fun with everything because he has the support of everyone.

“No one’s getting angry at him, no one’s caring, it’s his life and he can choose what he wants to do and where.

“We’re encouraging him to be himself and have some fun with it, he’s brought some entertainment to the industry, he made that Bulldogs game very watchable.

“I think football as a whole has been a lot better with Bailey being out there and being outspoken so, I hope he keeps doing that and people don’t shut him down.”

Originally published as Geelong star Gryan Miers refutes suggestions Bailey Smith has been a distraction for his teammates