Bailey Smith can expect to be punished for being filmed with a small bag of illicit drugs. He will not be punished for taking the drugs. He’ll be punished for embarrassing the AFL.
This is the intriguing thing about what happens next. History from the Shane Mumford, Tyson Stengle, Brad Crouch incidents says Smith will be punished by the AFL for conduct unbecoming and or bringing the game into disrepute and most likely receive a suspension of a couple of games on top of his existing two-game ban for headbutting.
This is not necessarily wrong but an oft-criticised element of the illicit drug policy by the fan and a frustration for the paid-up member is that the policy does not punish the player for behaviour that is at best suboptimal for them performing to their best as footballers.
agerealfooty As a 58 year old I am just confused about how these super stars keep using mental illness as an excuse for their behaviour. If I played this stunt with my employer I would lose my job instantly. But AFL clubs seem to give in to social pressures. Sack the guy and send a message
agerealfooty AFL endorses players talking illegal drugs. Any sponsors going cancel their contract? He should be banned. People making excuses he had mental health issues. My mother suffers from bipolar disorder she doesn't go out and buy some cocaine!!! Stop using mental health as an excuse.
agerealfooty So does that mean that all the people who are in prison for drug charges can go free too?
agerealfooty We finally have a prime minister doing good things so all of the news is about some junkie who skipped a few stages of evolution
agerealfooty This article is 100% spot on. AFL does not give a shit whether players use cocaine , they only care if it is made public which is a clear case of double standards.
agerealfooty Put him in jail
agerealfooty He is a role model. Kids will be watching this space to see how we view hard drug use. Needs to be a 1 year ban. Also mental health seems to be the go to excuse for bad behaviour these days. Resilience no longer exists.
agerealfooty Pretty obvious the 3 strike rule enforced by Demetriou was the problem........He wanted to save his job for longer with him at the top. AFL and players on drugs is massive......Media are muzzled, weak bastards.
agerealfooty We will get a sob story, I'm sorry, maybe the mental health card, you know the same old story.. Who cares, he is young, enjoy life, I mean Dictator Dan promotes shooting up ice and heroin with his injecting room next to the primary school
agerealfooty
agerealfooty May as well be consistent and fine half the players in that case….
agerealfooty Who's embarrassed? The elite hypocrites who own the sport? The stadiums should put 'drugs are bad' signs on the goal posts, that'll fix it, that'll protect the children.
agerealfooty Disgrace that there’s a majority who are sweeping this under the carpet. Illicit drugs are illegal drugs plain & simple.