Prominent AFL journalist Caroline Wilson believes Geelong teammates are not particularly happy with Bailey Smith’s antics away from the field.
The comments come in the wake of AFL chief Andrew Dillon’s private meeting with Smith and the Cats hierarchy last week.
The 24-year-old was publicly scolded by Dillon for an Instagram comment mentioning the use of illicit drugs, but wasn’t officially sanctioned.
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Cats star Bailey Smith is pictured singing the team song after a Geelong victory. Getty
While explaining why the head of the AFL felt the need to drive an hour down the highway to meet with Smith, Wilson outlined the multitude of factors that would have been at play.
“People are worried about Bailey Smith and some of his behaviour,” Wilson told Wide World of Sports’ 3AW on Saturday.
“Andrew Dillon has a connection with the Smith family, he is a Xavier boy like Bailey, I’m sure he knows Bailey Smith’s father (from school) and I think Steve Hocking suggested to Andrew Dillon that maybe it would help.
“I think it was interesting that Andrew Mackie, the Geelong footy boss, was there as well.
“I think there are players at Geelong who are getting … they love what Bailey Smith has brought to the club … but they don’t love everything Bailey Smith is doing, and I’m not just talking about that silly social media post.
“They knew what they were getting, but you don’t know what you know until you know it. He’s come in, he hasn’t been super reliable at times.
“And he’s not someone who has the penny drop when it should at times, and I think there was a view that maybe it would help.
“I commend Andrew Dillon for not dragging him up to Melbourne. I think there’s a view among the Cats that you can’t just say to Bailey Smith ‘mate it’s really stupid to equate celebrating a premiership with cocaine’.
“There are 15-year-olds by the thousands who follow him on social media and even if some idiot has egged you on, that’s just a really bad message.
“But you can’t just say that to him. You have to do it in a subtle way. And I think Andrew Dillon explained to Bailey Smith what he could become if he was prepared to do the right thing by his team and his teammates and his own game.”
Smith was a late withdrawal from Geelong’s win over Gold Coast with the club citing hamstring soreness.
