Bailey Smith sparks controversy with ‘nose beers’ remark – as Geelong coach defends the superstar

• Cats star raises eyebrows with social media post
• Geelong coach Chris Scott defends the midfielder

By JAMES COONEY FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA and SHAYNE HOPE FOR AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS

Geelong star Bailey Smith has once again found himself at the centre of an AFL storm, this time raising eyebrows with a controversial Instagram post about the use of drugs.

Smith relished the spotlight in his first encounter with the Bulldogs, starring in the Cats’ 20.7 (127) to 16.17 (113) win at GMHBA Stadium on Thursday night.

The 24-year-old was the centre of attention after lighting the fuse for the grudge match with several verbal barbs during the build-up.

Smith stood up under pressure, tallying 33 disposals and six clearances as the Bulldogs mostly opted against trying to ruffle his feathers.

After the game, Smith posted photos from the occasion to Instagram, but it was the comments section that has caught people’s attention.

One follower asked the Geelong midfielder if he’d had ‘nose beers after the game mate?’.

Bailey Smith (pictured) is back in the headlines after making a questionable comment on social media following Thursday’s game

Smith responded by writing: ‘na bro, after the flag maybe tho.’

Nose beers is another name for the illicit drug cocaine.

The comment was soon deleted, but not before many people had shared it online.

Smith posted afterwards that he was ‘taking the p*ss’ telling sponsors ‘I love you’. 

Cats coach Chris Scott has since defended Smith over the post.

‘My take on it, not just in the footy world but in society, you can’t have it both ways,’ Scott told ABC radio.

‘If you are going to embrace this idea that the new world is sharing everything online and bantering and having a bit of fun, but as soon as it goes over the line we all have conniptions.

‘We all like comics that are on edge, but as soon as they say something that is confronting to someone’s sensibility, we want to cancel them.

The 24-year-old deleted the post and said he was just joking

Geelong coach Chris Scott defended Smith over the controversial ‘nose beers’ post

Smith had an outstanding performance against his former club on Thursday night

‘I just think that’s a loss of perspective, and with Bailey, remember he is 23.

‘You’ve got to be careful that these things don’t drift, and drift, and drift until it becomes something uncontrollable, but I think it’s an example of keeping everything in perspective.

‘It’s a balance between, certainly not condoning behaviour, you prefer didn’t happen, but also keeping it in perspective as much as possible.’

Smith went on to say that he is OK with Smith to walk that ‘edge’. 

‘I would much rather guys that are a little bit edgy but are really driven and competitive, as opposed to the straighty 180s who struggle a little bit more when the heat is really on,’ he said.

‘I think it’s an example of that edginess.’

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Bailey Smith sparks controversy with ‘nose beers’ remark – as Geelong coach defends the superstar

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