Geelong coach Chris Scott has thrown his support behind Bailey Smith after the midfielder’s eyebrow-raising Instagram reply referenced illicit drug use in the wake of the Cats’ win over the Western Bulldogs.
Smith, who starred with 33 disposals and seven tackles against his former club, was asked by a follower if he’d be having “nose beers”, slang for cocaine, after the game. The 23-year-old replied: “na bro, after the flag maybe tho”.
The comment triggered a wave of public reaction, but Scott urged people to avoid overreacting and instead see it as part of the modern football landscape.
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“You can’t have it both ways”, Scott urges perspective
“My take on it, not just in the footy world but in society, you can’t have it both ways,” Scott said on ABC Sport. “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.”
Scott acknowledged the post was questionable but stopped short of condemning Smith, instead highlighting the importance of balance.
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“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,” he said.
And when it comes to personality on and off the field, Scott made it clear he’d rather have players who bring a bit of 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.