The Geelong Football Club has broken its silence after the club’s players found themselves in hot water following the antics that took place during its Mad Monday celebrations.
Earlier on Tuesday, AFL general manager Greg Swann explained that he was left ‘not thrilled’ by what took place during the club’s end-of-season function but added that the league would not punish the club for its players’ antics, and instead would leave Chris Scott’s side to ‘deal with it’.
Swann also revealed that Geelong were already in the process of taking action.
After their Grand Final loss by Brisbane on Saturday afternoon, members of the squad gathered at the Wharf Shed on Eastern Beach Road dressed in fancy dress outfits.
Bailey Smith arrived at the party dressed as Brad Pitt’s character, Tristan Ludlow, from the western movie ‘Legends of the Fall’. The Cats midfielder, who placed third in this year’s Brownlow Medal race, was blasted after he had mocked respected footy journalist Caroline Wilson on social media.
He also caught the ire of former Eagles player Mitch Brown, who branded Smith a ‘homophobic loser’ after he appeared to make a reference to the film Brokeback Mountain on his Instagram.
Max Holmes arrived dressed as respected footy journalist Caroline Wilson and caught the ire of Channel Seven broadcaster Kane Cornes, who branded the players’ antics an ‘embarrassment’.
Bailey Smith (left, pictured with Patrick Dangerfield) has been blasted after the footy star appeared to make a reference to Brokeback Mountain on his Instagram. The Geelong player had dressed with a western theme, before writing: ‘This is what losing a Granny does to ya,’ on his Instagram
Smith deleted this photo from his Instagram, with himself and Max Holmes (left) who was dressed as respected footy journalist Caroline Wilson
Smith had also published a photo of himself and Brad Close, who was dressed as the infamous Geelong fan Catman
Geelong have since apologised and explained that post season events will no longer take place in this manner, adding that the club will be educating its players on the standards expected of them.
‘The Geelong Football Club sincerely apologises for the offence caused following our end of season gathering on Monday,’ a club statement read.
‘Certain costumes and associated social media posts were inappropriate and a significant error of judgment, and do not reflect our Team of All commitment.
‘The Club has decided future post season events will not continue in this current form, and we will take this moment to further educate our people on expectations and Club and community standards.’
Earlier on Tuesday, Swann said to members of the media: ‘Look, we have spoken to Geelong and had a chat to (chief executive) Steve Hocking,’ Swann said.
‘They’re actually dealing with it. We’ve always – well, certainly in my time – we think the clubs are the best people to deal with it, their players.
‘We’re not thrilled, obviously, with what happened – and nor are Geelong.
‘So they’re going to take some steps. I think there’ll be something coming out this afternoon around that.
‘And so we’ve pushed it down to them to deal with, so we’ve had some good chats to them about it.’
Swann said when the AFL checked in, Geelong had already been handling the situation and attempting to round up their players.
‘It’s hard to find people and they’ve all disappeared and they haven’t surfaced and things like that,’ he said.
‘So they’ve been doing a little bit of work in the background trying to sort that out.’
More to follow…
