Well I guess this explains his haircut.

By playing the 'mental health' card over and over again in the Statements, with AFL blessing, they have shut down media discussion of Smith's drug use.

Other cases of out of season drug use have had 2 -5 weeks suspension and Bailey should get similar.   To be served after his 2 weeks suspension for a head expires.

Edited June 11, 20223 yr by Lucifers Hero

"I'm sorry I got caught"

so it's all the fault of the mfc?

57 minutes ago, Sir Why You Little said:

They put it up there

Totally devoid of brain capacity.

1 hour ago, Emerald said:

Well I guess this explains his haircut.

There are NO excuses for that hair 

7 hours ago, Colm said:

Bulldogs will pull the mental health card and that will kill the story quick smart. 

And you were spot on…completely untouchable now. They’ve done the same with Hunter. Libba before that. 

So many questions for the AFL or is this all window dressing with the club/AFL being forced to deal with it due to the imminent release on social media. If they were genuine they would force the player to answer questions under threat of extreme sanctions. Such as when did the club become aware of the issue; who supplied the drugs; are other players involved. Whenever these things arise it is the stock standard regent mental health issues and a pledge to do better. Two week later it all forgotten and the drug use just rolls on

5 minutes ago, Kick_It_To_Pickett said:

And you were spot on…completely untouchable now. They’ve done the same with Hunter. Libba before that. 

And Griffen a few years ago. Bevo has lots of form playing this card. 

46 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

so it's all the fault of the mfc?

I like to think last September we crushed that footy clubs soul

It’s also a bit of the chicken or the egg. Which came first?!
Didn’t take been beaten in GF well so went out parting to drown his sorrows. Made the decision to go a step further and hit the powder. 
Anybody that has taken a bit of powder in their time knows your mental health tends to suffer afterwards. 

8 minutes ago, Colm said:

It’s also a bit of the chicken or the egg. Which came first?!
Didn’t take been beaten in GF well so went out parting to drown his sorrows. Made the decision to go a step further and hit the powder. 
Anybody that has taken a bit of powder in their time knows your mental health tends to suffer afterwards. 

All his holiday snaps from the GC after the Granny seem to show he was perfectly fine and just having a massive bender with mates. The mental health card being pulled is a disgrace. 

20 minutes ago, Colm said:

And Griffen a few years ago. Bevo has lots of form playing this card. 

and boyd

2 hours ago, ManDee said:

There I was agreeing with much of what you said and then you reveal the chip on your shoulder.

"Private school types". You need to get over your misconception of private school types. If I was prepared to waste more time I believe I could establish a case for ratbag public and private school types. Equally, fine young men and natural leaders from both camps.

 

2 hours ago, ManDee said:

Some MFC private school ratbags.

Jack Viney 

Ed Langdon

Adam Tomlinson

James Jordan

Jayden Hunt

Harry Petty

Kate Chandler

Mitch Brown

What a bunch of trouble makers. Oh and Steven May.

 

Cheer up Mandee. I'm just having a little merry poke at the culture of hypocrisy, prejudice and entitlement that sets the tone of the private school alumni world and routinely costs outsiders all kinds of opportunities. Nothing to get wound up about.

No idea why he would post a photo of himself on social media like that. Under the influence or drugs or not it was very dumb. Personally I don't care what footballers get up in their private lives but if you make it public then you should suffer the consequences

And the mental health angle is bogus. He's using drugs recreationally to have a good time. Same as getting boozed up on a night out

We should probably take a little heat off Bailey Smith and direct a little more at the Bulldogs.

Teenager in predraft interview: "I've got some mental health issues which I sometimes struggle with."

Football club: "Great. That'll be really useful for spin later. We'd definitely encourage you to go on a Gold Coast party bender shortly after a bitter disappointment.

AFL: Yep, best option left after we stripped back all progress on player welfare resources to cover Covid losses.

Using mental health to cover up genuinely poor behavior just minimizes the seriousness of those who really suffer from poor mental health.

I’m not suggesting Smith hasn’t suffered from mental health problems, but let’s not for a minute blame that for using drugs and then having it recorded on social media. Seriously that’s not a mental health issue that’s a stupidity issue. 

The 'fix' is on its way:  Bailey is young,  he made a mistake, he needs support, ipso facto sanctions aren't the right option.  Rinse.  Repeat.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2022-bailey-smith-white-powder-photo-western-bulldogs-investigation-news-updates/news-story/a9573fc0707d3aba543d146ee2fe4ea5

The AFL acknowledged Smith’s statement on Saturday afternoon and said it would interview him “in the coming days”.

The AFL Players’ Association said it would support Smith during this time and was “confident the Western Bulldogs will do likewise”.

“Bailey is a young man who has made a mistake, but importantly has owned that mistake and, even more importantly, has put steps in place to learn from it and grow as a person as a result of it,” the AFLPA statement read.  “The AFL environment is high pressure and high profile and Bailey has previously shared his battles with mental health.

“When issues such as this arise, there are typically two alternative approaches people think should be taken. “Condemn, sanction and shame the player involved or support, educate and try to use the issue as an opportunity for growth.”

imv the AFLPA is saying Smith should not be sanctioned.

Don't expect to see anymore discussion in the media.  Case closed.

 

tbh I feel sorry for him to be going through this.  It could easily be one of our youngsters.

My frustration is at WB, the AFL and now the AFLPA.   They should apply the rules consistently and Bailey being 20 doesn't excuse him.

I can see the case building against May; he is nearly 30 he should know better.  I hope the AFLPA use their negotiating skills with the AFL on his behalf.

Edited June 11, 20223 yr by Lucifers Hero

21 minutes ago, BDA said:

No idea why he would post a photo of himself on social media like that. Under the influence or drugs or not it was very dumb. Personally I don't care what footballers get up in their private lives but if you make it public then you should suffer the consequences

And the mental health angle is bogus. He's using drugs recreationally to have a good time. Same as getting boozed up on a night out

Doubt he posted himself , the photos could have been from a facetime call screen shotted by other party, the video was done by another party

Just now, Satan said:

Doubt he posted himself , the photos could have been from a facetime call screen shotted by other party, the video was done by another party

i know the video in the club was a third party. As regards the photo though i read somewhere it was a private post. He's looking directly into the phone so whether its a photo or facetime screeshot still very stupid

Just now, Jaded No More said:

Using mental health to cover up genuinely poor behavior just minimizes the seriousness of those who really suffer from poor mental health.

I’m not suggesting Smith hasn’t suffered from mental health problems, but let’s not for a minute blame that for using drugs and then having it recorded on social media. Seriously that’s not a mental health issue that’s a stupidity issue. 

100%

I take medication to manage my mental health problem every day. Alongside lifestyle changes it’s made me a completely different person, and significantly happier, and healthier.

Trust me - if you’ve truly experienced mental health problems you’re not going to take drugs that will completely mess with your psychological health. If he takes mental health meds then it’s the definition of insanity to mix them with street drugs.

The blanket labelling of a host of behavioural issues under the guise of ‘mental health’ is an insult to all of us, and the fact we aren’t allowed to publicly call it out for what it is means that it will continue to be a problem. THIS is what journalism is supposed to be about. Uncovering the truth, not about a specific individual, but about a practice that reeks of insincerity.

My spin

1 Our obliteration of the Dish Lickers would have inflicted serious doubts and potential issues on many players such was our domination! I was part of a team that lost 2 G F in a Row but did I indulge in um alternate remedies because mentally I was disappionted?? NUP

2 I have seen many who only fess up AFTER they are caught doing something they should not have

3  A lot of AFL players think that they can get away with anything unless of course see point 2 above!

4 And as for playing the mental health card.... Please!

Edited June 11, 20223 yr by picket fence

4 hours ago, ManDee said:

There I was agreeing with much of what you said and then you reveal the chip on your shoulder.

"Private school types". You need to get over your misconception of private school types. If I was prepared to waste more time I believe I could establish a case for ratbag public and private school types. Equally, fine young men and natural leaders from both camps.

I suspect that there was a hint of irony in the post.  Maybe the next site update could add an “irony” emoji, such as  🙄

2 hours ago, Jaded No More said:

Seriously that’s not a mental health issue that’s a stupidity issue. 

Mental without the health part...

2 hours ago, Lucifers Hero said:

“Bailey is a young man who has made a mistake,

A mistake...

Is the mistake a single use or a multitude of uses creating a single problem?