Bailey Smith’s off-field antics have again come under scrutiny, with former Bulldog and Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney warning the Geelong midfielder risks being pushed out of the club if his behaviour doesn’t improve.
Smith, who enjoyed a breakout season capped by an All-Australian selection and a Grand Final appearance, drew criticism for his conduct during the Cats’ Mad Monday celebrations.
His comments, described as homophobic by some observers, reportedly led Geelong to cancel future post-season events.
Cooney says Smith is “getting too big for his boots”
Speaking on SEN’s Sportsday, Cooney said Smith’s growing profile means his actions attract far more attention than most players, and that he must now learn to manage that spotlight responsibly.
“I think Geelong did the right thing (by cancelling future Mad Mondays). I think Bailey Smith overstepped the mark with the comments that were deemed to be homophobic,” Cooney said. “Bailey Smith has got to be careful. If he doesn’t pull his head in, in 12 months’ time he’s not going to be at Geelong. We’ll be talking about Bailey Smith in the trade period in 2026.”
Cooney added that while coach Chris Scott offers players “an amazing amount of freedom, independence and responsibility,” that trust can vanish quickly if it’s abused. “Everything Bailey does is magnified by a hundred,” he said. “He just needs to temper it a little bit… I just don’t want to see it go pear-shaped.”
Despite his stellar on-field campaign, Smith’s challenge now lies in proving he can match his professionalism with his talent before the patience at Kardinia Park wears thin.