Chris Scott says Geelong star Bailey Smith did all the talking in meeting with AFL boss Andrew Dillon about behaviour
Smith, who will return for the Cats against Essendon on Saturday after a brief injury lay-off, was part of a meeting with Dillon, Scott, Geelong football boss Andrew Mackie and chief executive Steve Hocking at his Surf Coast property last Thursday.
It came after Smith put himself in the spotlight when he alluded to recreational drug use on social media, having already twice been fined for an inappropriate gesture towards opposition fans.
Smith, who crossed to Geelong from the Western Bulldogs, also became embroiled in a verbal stoush with his former club after playing in front of a packed MCG and declaring 'you don't get that at Ballarat' after a crowd below 10,000 attended a Dogs game in the regional centre.
But Scott was loathe to 'overplay the importance of it' and Smith was even 'keen' to have the face-to-face meeting after Dillon had addressed the issues publicly on occasion.
'It was a very casual and low-key catch-up, as much as can be between peers when you've got a 23 or 24-year-old with the CEO of the Cats and the CEO of the AFL,' Scott said on Friday.
'I'm loathe to say too much because I don't want to speak on behalf of Andrew Dillon, but as a club we certainly appreciated the fact that he reached out.
'The takeaways would have been Bailey has a really good feel that he's got a lot of people supporting him.
'I think he recognised better post that meeting how much the AFL value what he can bring to the game and by extension to the AFL themselves.
'I don't think he's ever had any trouble with this, but it has been reinforced, the responsibility that he has to the game as well. Those things kind of go hand-in-glove.
'The more I talk about it, the more I get concerned that I give the impression that it was three or four people speaking at Bailey. It wasn't like that at all.'
Scott said Smith, who has the support of the club and his teammates to continue to show his character, was in no way taken aback by the meeting and would continue to show his character.
'He actually did most of the talking – which is not unusual,' Scott said.
'It's been good fun to have him around the place. Players love him. Staff love him.
'We're on our toes, aren't we? '
'It's exciting, but we've said for a long time we don't have any intention of trying to fill our list with the same sort of person. He is unique but in the most positive sense of the word.'
Scott will notch a significant milestone on Saturday, coaching against his brother Brad, with the twins notching up a combined 1000 games as players and coaches.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
35 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Finals beckon, but Suns keep their Witts about them
Jarrod Witts' rucking wares are being heralded as All-Australian worthy, while Gold Coast, in reach of a top-four finish, keep their feet in new AFL territory. The Suns' historic 66-point QClash victory on Saturday gave them, with five regular-season games to play, a club-best 12th win this season. Four of those games come against teams not in finals contention, leaving the Suns in the hunt for a top-four finish in what would be their maiden post-season foray. Witts, two games shy of his 200th AFL game, has been critical in that run. The 32-year-old helped turn the screws against the Brisbane Lions on Saturday as the Suns' midfield upstaged the Lions' for their biggest QClash win. Unprompted, Hardwick launched a campaign for the ruckman post-game. "Can I make a statement about Jarrod Witts? Can we start having a conversation?" he posed when asked about the performance of Witts' star on-ballers Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson. "I watched TV the other day, they had a list of ruckmen that are in the mix. Go and have a look at what our guy's done to all those guys." Before Saturday, Witts had collected the seventh-most coaches' votes of all ruckmen, his 26 dwarfed by leaders Brodie Grundy (65) and Max Gawn (59). "Have the conversation about how good this guy's become,": Hardwick said. "These guys (Suns midfielders) should be buying him coffee every day. Unbelievable. "I'd love to have him as All-Australian … I wouldn't pick another one." The Suns play Richmond, Carlton, GWS, Essendon and Port Adelaide in the run to a potential first finals campaign. Only the Giants are a shot of joining them, although emotion will be high when the Power play their final game under long-time mentor Ken Hinkley. "It is every side's challenge, isn't it," Hardwick said. "The sides we are talking about, they are going to have their moments and they are going to play well. "At various stages we haven't beaten those sides we should have beaten and that is going to be our next challenge. "If we concentrate firmly on the next shift, where our feet are right now, we are going to be OK."
ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
Finau Shed the Weight to Lift Her Family's Future
This Week on Radio Australia: On Nesia Daily, ABC's Fiji correspondent Lice Movono reflects on the incredible legacy of music legend George "Fiji" Veikoso. On Pacific Pulse, host Melissa Maykin welcomes a dietician who shares her personal journey of breaking the cycle of poor health in her family. And on Nesian Footy, hosts Sam Wykes and Will Hopoate catch up with the CEO of Pacific Rugby Players, diving into the latest developments in the sport. Relax into your Sunday morning with two hours of the best stories from across the Pacific. Host, Kuntamari Crofts will take you on a Pacific Sundays journey, bringing you stories that will inspire, entertain and inform you.
The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
It's Young talent time as wayward Dockers crush Eagles
Fremantle midfielder Hayden Young has showcased what a weapon he will be in the club's AFL premiership push as the Dockers brushed aside West Coast by 49 points in a fiery western derby clash. Young tallied 23 disposals, seven clearances, three goals and 555m gained to win the Glendinning-Allan Medal in the 18.18 (126) to 12.5 (77) triumph in front of 54,384 fans at Optus Stadium on Saturday. The 24-year-old came on as the sub in his first game back from hamstring surgery in last week's one-point win over Collingwood, but he was unleashed from the very start of Saturday's game before being subbed out early in the last. Young was the dominant figure of the opening term, and his ruthlessness in front of goal when his teammates continually missed was another sign of just how important he is to the club's flag push. "It's handy, and we've missed his ball use at times this year," Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said of Young's accuracy. "I thought he was clean, I thought he found space, I thought he finished well. He was sharp. "He gives another big body around there as well, which helps Andy (Brayshaw) and Caleb (Serong) and the other mids." Michael Frederick kicked a career-high four goals, Andrew Brayshaw racked up 32 disposals and eight clearances, while rising star Murphy Reid (23 disposals, one goal) tallied a whopping 15 score involvements. Four-time Glendinning-Allan Medallist Serong had to work hard for his 20 disposals and eight clearances under a tight tag from Brady Hough. For West Coast, defender Reuben Ginbey kept Josh Treacy goalless from nine disposals, Tim Kelly found form with 26 disposals, eight clearances and two goals, and Harley Reid (15 disposals, three clearances, two goals) battled hard amidst the boos. Reid limped off in the dying minutes with an ankle injury after being crunched in a tackle by Karl Worner. The win keeps Fremantle (13-6) within percentage of the top four, while West Coast (1-18) have lost nine on the trot and are headed for their second wooden spoon in three seasons. West Coast were forced into a late change when defender Harry Edwards injured his hamstring in the warm-up, Harley Reid was target No.1 in the opening quarter. First, he was involved in a wrestle with Fremantle veteran Jaeger O'Meara. Later in the term, he was caught unaware when he was flattened in an off-the-ball bump from Patrick Voss (three goals). West Coast kept pace with Fremantle early, but two goals in a minute to Frederick, followed by two goals in a minute to Young, blew the scoreboard out to 40-12 by quarter-time. Fremantle's 14-7 clearance count in the opening quarter was ominous, with Young tallying 10 disposals, five clearances and two goals in a brilliant individual display. Frederick's third goal stretched the margin to 35 points early in the third quarter, but a magical running goal by Harley Reid helped keep West Coast in the contest. Fremantle dominated the rest of the quarter, but their wasteful return of 1.6 meant the half-time margin was only 22 points. The Dockers' wobbles continued early in the third quarter as West Coast cut the margin to 18 points, before Fremantle finally found their range to blow the margin wide open. "I think the scoreboard flattered us probably for a fair chunk of that game," West Coast coach Andrew McQualter said. "I think you saw a Fremantle team hungry, in a position where they're going to be fighting for finals, and their class probably just overwhelmed us." Fremantle midfielder Hayden Young has showcased what a weapon he will be in the club's AFL premiership push as the Dockers brushed aside West Coast by 49 points in a fiery western derby clash. Young tallied 23 disposals, seven clearances, three goals and 555m gained to win the Glendinning-Allan Medal in the 18.18 (126) to 12.5 (77) triumph in front of 54,384 fans at Optus Stadium on Saturday. The 24-year-old came on as the sub in his first game back from hamstring surgery in last week's one-point win over Collingwood, but he was unleashed from the very start of Saturday's game before being subbed out early in the last. Young was the dominant figure of the opening term, and his ruthlessness in front of goal when his teammates continually missed was another sign of just how important he is to the club's flag push. "It's handy, and we've missed his ball use at times this year," Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said of Young's accuracy. "I thought he was clean, I thought he found space, I thought he finished well. He was sharp. "He gives another big body around there as well, which helps Andy (Brayshaw) and Caleb (Serong) and the other mids." Michael Frederick kicked a career-high four goals, Andrew Brayshaw racked up 32 disposals and eight clearances, while rising star Murphy Reid (23 disposals, one goal) tallied a whopping 15 score involvements. Four-time Glendinning-Allan Medallist Serong had to work hard for his 20 disposals and eight clearances under a tight tag from Brady Hough. For West Coast, defender Reuben Ginbey kept Josh Treacy goalless from nine disposals, Tim Kelly found form with 26 disposals, eight clearances and two goals, and Harley Reid (15 disposals, three clearances, two goals) battled hard amidst the boos. Reid limped off in the dying minutes with an ankle injury after being crunched in a tackle by Karl Worner. The win keeps Fremantle (13-6) within percentage of the top four, while West Coast (1-18) have lost nine on the trot and are headed for their second wooden spoon in three seasons. West Coast were forced into a late change when defender Harry Edwards injured his hamstring in the warm-up, Harley Reid was target No.1 in the opening quarter. First, he was involved in a wrestle with Fremantle veteran Jaeger O'Meara. Later in the term, he was caught unaware when he was flattened in an off-the-ball bump from Patrick Voss (three goals). West Coast kept pace with Fremantle early, but two goals in a minute to Frederick, followed by two goals in a minute to Young, blew the scoreboard out to 40-12 by quarter-time. Fremantle's 14-7 clearance count in the opening quarter was ominous, with Young tallying 10 disposals, five clearances and two goals in a brilliant individual display. Frederick's third goal stretched the margin to 35 points early in the third quarter, but a magical running goal by Harley Reid helped keep West Coast in the contest. Fremantle dominated the rest of the quarter, but their wasteful return of 1.6 meant the half-time margin was only 22 points. The Dockers' wobbles continued early in the third quarter as West Coast cut the margin to 18 points, before Fremantle finally found their range to blow the margin wide open. "I think the scoreboard flattered us probably for a fair chunk of that game," West Coast coach Andrew McQualter said. "I think you saw a Fremantle team hungry, in a position where they're going to be fighting for finals, and their class probably just overwhelmed us." Fremantle midfielder Hayden Young has showcased what a weapon he will be in the club's AFL premiership push as the Dockers brushed aside West Coast by 49 points in a fiery western derby clash. Young tallied 23 disposals, seven clearances, three goals and 555m gained to win the Glendinning-Allan Medal in the 18.18 (126) to 12.5 (77) triumph in front of 54,384 fans at Optus Stadium on Saturday. The 24-year-old came on as the sub in his first game back from hamstring surgery in last week's one-point win over Collingwood, but he was unleashed from the very start of Saturday's game before being subbed out early in the last. Young was the dominant figure of the opening term, and his ruthlessness in front of goal when his teammates continually missed was another sign of just how important he is to the club's flag push. "It's handy, and we've missed his ball use at times this year," Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir said of Young's accuracy. "I thought he was clean, I thought he found space, I thought he finished well. He was sharp. "He gives another big body around there as well, which helps Andy (Brayshaw) and Caleb (Serong) and the other mids." Michael Frederick kicked a career-high four goals, Andrew Brayshaw racked up 32 disposals and eight clearances, while rising star Murphy Reid (23 disposals, one goal) tallied a whopping 15 score involvements. Four-time Glendinning-Allan Medallist Serong had to work hard for his 20 disposals and eight clearances under a tight tag from Brady Hough. For West Coast, defender Reuben Ginbey kept Josh Treacy goalless from nine disposals, Tim Kelly found form with 26 disposals, eight clearances and two goals, and Harley Reid (15 disposals, three clearances, two goals) battled hard amidst the boos. Reid limped off in the dying minutes with an ankle injury after being crunched in a tackle by Karl Worner. The win keeps Fremantle (13-6) within percentage of the top four, while West Coast (1-18) have lost nine on the trot and are headed for their second wooden spoon in three seasons. West Coast were forced into a late change when defender Harry Edwards injured his hamstring in the warm-up, Harley Reid was target No.1 in the opening quarter. First, he was involved in a wrestle with Fremantle veteran Jaeger O'Meara. Later in the term, he was caught unaware when he was flattened in an off-the-ball bump from Patrick Voss (three goals). West Coast kept pace with Fremantle early, but two goals in a minute to Frederick, followed by two goals in a minute to Young, blew the scoreboard out to 40-12 by quarter-time. Fremantle's 14-7 clearance count in the opening quarter was ominous, with Young tallying 10 disposals, five clearances and two goals in a brilliant individual display. Frederick's third goal stretched the margin to 35 points early in the third quarter, but a magical running goal by Harley Reid helped keep West Coast in the contest. Fremantle dominated the rest of the quarter, but their wasteful return of 1.6 meant the half-time margin was only 22 points. The Dockers' wobbles continued early in the third quarter as West Coast cut the margin to 18 points, before Fremantle finally found their range to blow the margin wide open. "I think the scoreboard flattered us probably for a fair chunk of that game," West Coast coach Andrew McQualter said. "I think you saw a Fremantle team hungry, in a position where they're going to be fighting for finals, and their class probably just overwhelmed us."
