AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has shed light on why Geelong’s Bailey Smith has been officially “put on notice” over his recent off-field conduct, revealing the league felt it had to intervene to uphold its behavioural standards.
The league contacted the Cats last week, warning both the club and the midfielder that future indiscretions could lead to sanctions.
It followed a string of incidents, including Smith’s controversial Instagram post on Mad Monday featuring teammate Max Holmes dressed as journalist Caroline Wilson, which sparked backlash online.
Dillon calls for consistency across the competition
Speaking in Perth on Monday, Dillon explained that while Geelong had been managing the matter internally, the AFL believed it was time to step in.
“Ultimately, the decision is for the club to handle, but I think that 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,” Dillon said, as reported by The Advertiser.
He praised Smith’s talent but stressed the need for accountability: “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.”
Cats coach Chris Scott downplayed the tension, calling Smith’s first year at the club “an outrageous success” and saying the AFL’s approach showed “good collaboration” rather than conflict.
“It’s not as if they’re sitting back in a silo and not helping us,” Scott said. “I think it’s the opposite — I think it’s good collaboration.”