- Comes after club said it might look to muzzle his online activites
Geelong controversy magnet Bailey Smith has deleted two Instagram stories after recent attacks on media personalities landed him in hot water.
The Cats superstar has removed two Instagram stories in the past 24 hours, one taking aim at The Agenda Setters co-host Caroline Wilson, and the other directed at former Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson.
It comes after reports Geelong could look to muzzle Bailey Smith on social media after his latest clash with a media personality this week.
Smith appeared to fire back at Mark ‘Robbo’ Robinson, who had lashed the Cats’ Mad Monday celebrations as ‘disgusting’ and branded the star a ‘pig’ on AFL Trade Radio.
‘Slobbo you are one naughty boy,’ Smith wrote in an Instagram post.
Smith also came under fire for a recent Mad Monday image condemned as homophobic and another mocking Wilson.
Smith (left, pictured with Patrick Dangerfield) has been 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
Bailey Smith has appeared to hit back at Mark Robinson (pictured) on Instagram, calling him ‘slobbo’ after the footy reporter blasted Smith on AFL Trade Radio for his Mad Monday antics
Robinson also slammed Smith (right) for comments he made about respected footy journalist Caroline Wilson, after Max Holmes (left) dressed as Wilson during the party
He previously escaped sanction after abusing a photographer at training, with the incidents adding to growing pressure on the club to rein in his behaviour online.
Club CEO Steve Hocking told Channel Seven that Smith’s online presence is a major concern and said the club will meet with him during the off-season to address it.
He described Smith as having a ‘very different relationship with social media’ compared to most players and stressed Geelong won’t ‘tiptoe around’ the issue.
Hocking also confirmed the Cats plan to introduce new boundaries around Mad Monday and player conduct to prevent further controversy.
Former Port Adelaide premiership winner and media personality Kane Cornes has called for Smith to tone it down when it comes to attacking people on social media.
‘I think it is time for Bailey, who brings so much good to the game, there’s no doubt about that,’ he said.
‘There is lot of good to him and at the core he has a good heart, but right now, he is becoming a distraction that his club does not need.
‘It revolves around his use of social media and some other things.’
AFL general manager Greg Swann has since explained that the league was ‘not thrilled’ over Geelong’s Mad Monday antics but added that the AFL would be leaving the club to ‘deal with’ the situation, choosing not to directly punish the players.
The Cats later issued a statement apologising, before stating that they would be educating their squad on expected standards.
