Bailey Smith hosts secret meeting with AFL CEO and Geelong bosses

7NEWS

11 hours ago

AFL boss Andrew Dillon drove to the home of Bailey Smith for a secret fireside meeting on Thursday night amid the Geelong superstar's recent headline-grabbing indiscretions.
7NEWS understands Dillon and Smith were joined by Cats coach Chris Scott, chief executive Steve Hocking and head of football Andrew Mackie at the Surf Coast property.
Dillon organised the meeting after Smith's social media post last month alluding to illicit drug use saw the Cats and AFL hold robust conversations over the 24-year-old's behaviour.
The AFL opted not to penalise the explosive midfielder for the now-deleted Instagram comment, instead warning Smith that he would be sanctioned should a similar incident arise.
Smith was fined for two separate 'obscene gestures' to fans during Gather Round and Easter Monday matches this year.
Those with knowledge of Thursday's intimate catch-up insist Dillon didn't lecture Smith, instead reiterating his importance as a role model as one of the faces of the competition.
Dillon and the Cats officials outlined that should Smith's career trajectory continue with fewer off-field controversies, his marketability would only rise.
As well as a playing contract worth more than $850,000 per season, the Brownlow Medal contender has lucrative partnerships with Cotton On, Monster Energy, McDonalds, Stuff That Matters and his own alcohol label Barry's.
Such was the importance of the meeting, Dillon opted to drive 90 minutes for the Surf Coast visit rather than spend the night wining and dining Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Western Bulldogs-Hawthorn game.
The PM enjoyed the Marvel Stadium hospitality alongside Hawks president Andy Gowers — a premiership teammate of Dillon's at VAFA club Old Xaverians.
With pressure rising on his football department in recent months, Dillon has made a concerted effort to be more personable with his connections to key figures.
However, the league CEO meeting at the home of a star player, with his coach, CEO and football boss, is seen as extremely rare.
Dillon met with Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge, Richmond coach Adem Yze and Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell at the Graham Hotel in South Melbourne in early May.
He followed by meeting coaches Simon Goodwin (Melbourne), Alastair Clarkson (North Melbourne), Chris Scott (Geelong) and Brad Scott (Essendon) at Fitzroy's Builders Arms Hotel a fortnight later.
Geelong have been the subject of an ongoing AFL audit this season into third party payments that is expected to result in a fine for administrative lodgement errors — not explicit hidden deals — in the next fortnight.
Chris Scott was forced to include part of his salary into the Cats' soft cap earlier this season.
He is expected to be in the frame to play against Essendon at the MCG next week.