The AFL has become "fed up" with Bailey Smith's negative social media use.
The superstar midfielder has made headlines off the field a number of times over his first season in Geelong, including a series of social media posts during the Cats' Mad Monday party.
Some of those posts related to Caroline Wilson, with Geelong chief executive Steve Hocking stating the club had since apologised to her, which the veteran reporter has refuted.
Smith, 24, then followed up by sharing a screenshot of an old Channal 9 Footy Show image of Sam Newman berating Wilson, and that has prompted the AFL to act, in a story first reported by The Age's Peter Ryan.
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In a chat with 3AW, Ryan said "enough's enough" from the AFL's perspective and the league could come in over the top of Geelong and issue fines to Smith, stating the AFL "basically got fed up".
Hocking addressed the ongoing drama surrounding Smith during AFL trade period.
"In regards to Bailey, we have absolutely welcomed what he has done on field," Hocking told SEN.
"He finished third in the Brownlow. It’s an amazing comeback off the back of an ACL.
"When you come off-field, the interest in him is just unbelievable. He has a different relationship with social media than our age profile. I don’t understand it at all, but he works that exceptionally well.
"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.
"I always talk about barnacles on a boat, if you end up with too many it’s only going one way, we have to remove some of those."
Kane Cornes then weighed into the recent developments on SEN Breakfast.
“Where does this leave Geelong and the AFL’s confidence in them being able to handle Bailey Smith? He asked. "Not great.
“They’re obviously slightly worried about it. The fact Caro has been as strong as she has and put it on the Cats, she put it on Geelong.
“How much will they continue to let him get away with? It’s forced them to act. What happens if there’s another social post?
“In isolation these aren’t hanging offences, what’s the next level? Is it a fine?
“Largely he is terrific for the game, 90 per cent - maybe more - of what he does is great for the game and the club.
"When it gets personal about other people, I think there’s an issue.”