Geelong coach Chris Scott has called Bailey Smith’s recruitment an ‘outrageous success’, denying the Cats are struggling to handle the star midfielder’s off-field behaviour.
Cats chief executive Steve Hocking received a letter from the AFL’s legal counsel after another of Smith’s social media posts drew controversy.
The 24-year-old has consistently found himself in the headlines for the wrong reasons since verbally abusing a photographer at a training session the week after Geelong’s qualifying final win in September. Smith also copped scrutiny over multiple controversial social media posts he made during and after the Cats’ Mad Monday party.
But in Smith’s first year at Geelong, the former Western Bulldogs ace put together a career-best season as he finished third in the Brownlow Medal and the Cats made the grand final.
‘We’re really confident that it’s in a really good spot,’ Scott said of Smith’s behaviour.
‘If you separate out off-field issues… if we think through how the last 12 months have gone with Bailey, it’s been an outrageous success.
Chris Scott has rallied to the defence of Geelong superstar Bailey Smith (pictured) and has denied that the Cats are struggling to manage the midfielder
After a stellar first season with the Cats, Smith has found himself in the spotlight for the wrong reasons, but Scott (pictured) believes the former Western Bulldog is ‘is in a good spot’ adding the past 12 months have been an ‘outrageous success’
Smith placed third in this year’s Brownlow Medal race and won his first All-Australian blazer after the Cats star enjoyed a standout year guiding the side to the AFL Grand FInal
‘Outrageous, not perfect.
‘If you are privy to some of the information with a whole range of our players, it’s likely that’s it’s going to be a similar sort of description; some bits have gone really well, and there are other bits that we’ve sort of got to nudge and manage a little bit.
‘But that’s all it is, a nudge here and there.
‘I refuse to buy into the idea that there’s major work to be done, I just don’t believe that to be true.’
Scott has always publicly defended his players, and again refused to condemn Smith for his post-season antics after being pressed on the issue following his announcement as Victoria’s State of Origin coach.
But the dual premiership coach did acknowledge he was relieved Cats players would no longer be dressing up for Mad Monday.
Smith made a series of divisive posts, which were then all deleted, during the post-grand final celebrations.
Mitch Brown, the first male AFL player to come out as bisexual, and prominent journalist Caroline Wilson both took offence at Smith’s posts.
Scott’s comments inteestingly come after Geelong chief Steve Hocking (pictured) received a letter from the AF, warning the club about Smith’s recent behaviour
Smith (left, pictured with Patrick Dangerfield) was criticised after the footy star appeared to make a reference to Brokeback Mountain on his Instagram during Geelong’s Mad Monday celebrations. The Geelong player had dressed in a western theme, before writing: ‘This is what losing a Granny does to ya,’ on his Instagram
The Geelong star also made headlines after he published a photo of himself and Max Holmes, who was dressed as Caroline Wilson, (left) on Instagram
Smith is currently enjoying some time away from the footy pitch and is yet to formally speak with Scott over his post-season party behaviour
Even before the AFL’s letter, Hocking admitted his post relating to Wilson was ‘completely unacceptable’ and that the club would speak to Smith about his behaviour.
Scott is yet to formally speak with Smith after the AFL’s warning last week.
‘The big win for me, personally, over the last few weeks is that the players aren’t dressing up for Mad Monday anymore,’ Scott said.
‘Just because I don’t like it doesn’t mean I should impose my will on the rest of the players.
‘I’m very conscious of respecting the players’ privacy and desire to get away.
‘We almost wear it as a badge of honour that we don’t consider our role as one of ownership of our players.’
Scott admitted he was still personally processing the Cats’ 47-point grand final loss to Brisbane when they were blown away from the end of the third quarter.
‘Generally, the likelihood is you’re going to lose the last game of the season and be bitterly disappointed,’ he said.
‘That’s not easy, but pretty quickly, in my experience, the excitement and the things that you’ve got to look forward to gradually take over.’
