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SELECT 👉 Hagley Oval commentaryAFL issues Geelong official warning over Smith's social media use
SEN • October 20th, 2025 5:34 pm
The AFL has sent an official notice to Geelong regarding the online activities of superstar Bailey Smith.
Writing to the Cats’ CEO Steve Hocking, sports reporter Peter Ryan wrote that Smith will receive punishment from the AFL if his negative social media activity continues.
Smith has been at the centre of numerous social media scandals, most recently sharing an Instagram story displaying a photo of an episode of The Footy Show, within which former AFL personality Sam Newman berated journalist Caroline Wilson.
This came just days after Geelong’s Mad Monday antics, where Max Holmes’ decision to dress up as Wilson and Smith’s ongoing Instagram use during the Cats’ celebrations caused major criticism and the ultimate cancellation of future Mad Mondays.
Both Geelong and the AFL are yet to sanction the 24-year-old over his social media use.
It has been reported that the AFL’s perspective remains that while Smith’s independent actions have not been severe enough to warrant any form of punishment, the ongoing and repeated behaviours are more than enough for an official warning, with future sanctions if his behaviour is to continue.
Speaking with SEN during the AFL Trade Period, Geelong CEO Steve Hocking revealed how the club has gone about dealing with Smith since he joined the club ahead of 2025.
"We have apologised for that (Mad Monday), particularly to Caro (Caroline Wilson), it was unacceptable how that was rolled out and treated,” Hocking said.
"In regards to Bailey, we have absolutely welcomed what he has done on field. He finished third in the Brownlow. It’s an amazing comeback off the back of an ACL.
"When you come off-field, the interest in him is just unbelievable. He has a different relationship with social media than our age profile. I don’t understand it at all, but he works that exceptionally well.
"There will be a time in my view this will involve all of us in the off-season where by we need to (talk to him).
"It’s not about tiptoeing around someone like Bailey but more about tailoring it accordingly.
"I always talk about barnacles on a boat, if you end up with too many it’s only going one way, we have to remove some of those."
