Chris Scott bristles at suggestions Geelong are struggling to manage Bailey Smith

Geelong coach Chris Scott has bristled at suggestions his club is struggling to handle the off-field behaviour of star midfielder Bailey Smith.

Smith has courted controversy several times in his first 12 months at the Cattery, particularly since verbally abusing a photographer at a training session the week after Geelong’s qualifying final win in September.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Chris Scott defends Bailey Smith amid Origin plans.

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The AFL’s more recent concerns around how unpredictable the 24-year-old has been with his social media use.

He has been forced to delete multiple offensive Instagram posts, including some directed towards respected journalist Caroline Wilson and former Herald Sun writer Mark Robinson.

Cats chief executive Steve Hocking last week received a letter from the AFL’s legal counsel, who declared Smith was on his final warning, and risks fines or a suspension if he crosses the line again.

But Scott insists there is no major problem.

“We think, while it’s imperfect at the moment, it’s in a pretty good spot. I wouldn’t fret too much if I were you,” Scott said of Smith’s behaviour on Wednesday.

Bailey Smith’s post on Mark Robinson. Credit: Instagram

Scott admitted he had hardly spoken to Smith since the end of the season, making clear that he is “very conscious of respecting the players’ privacy and desire to get away”.

“We almost wear it as a badge of honour that we don’t consider our role as one of ownership of our players — that’s just not the way we think about the world,” Scott said.

“But there is an expectation that we will work together hopefully as much as possible as peers to continually get better.

“I hesitate to bring that sort of stuff up because it does give the impression that it amplifies the current situation to a point where I don’t think it is.

“I can’t control what others might choose to amplify, but what I would say is we’re really confident that it’s in a really good spot.

“And if you separate out the off-field issues … and if we think through how the last 12 months have gone with Bailey, it’s been an outrageous success. Outrageous.

“Not perfect, but if you are privy to some of the information with a whole range of our players, I think it’s likely that that’s going to be a similar sort of description, that some bits have gone really, really well, and there are other bits that we’ve got to nudge and manage a little bit, but that’s all it is.

“I refuse to buy into the idea that there’s major work to be done. I just don’t believe that to be true.”

Geelong coach Chris Scott was thrilled with Bailey Smith’s first season with the Cats. Credit: AAP

Scott has always publicly defended his players, and again refused to condemn Smith for his post-season antics after being pressed on the issue following his announcement as Victoria’s State of Origin coach.

But the dual premiership coach did acknowledge he was relieved Cats players would no longer be dressing up for Mad Monday.

Mitch Brown, the first male AFL player to come out as bisexual, and Wilson both took offence at Smith’s posts during the post-grand final celebrations.

Even before the AFL’s letter, Hocking admitted his post relating to Wilson was “completely unacceptable” and that the club would speak to Smith about his behaviour.

“I don’t live in that social media world,” Scott said.

“The big win for me, personally, over the last few weeks is that the players aren’t dressing up for Mad Monday anymore. I’ve never been a fan of it.

“And I don’t think Steve Hocking (likes it), he’s not that type of guy. (Geelong head of footy) Andrew Mackie’s certainly not

“But hopefully it sort of explains a little bit what we think of the world. Just because I don’t like it doesn’t mean that I should impose my will on the rest of the players.

“Most controversies, at least from good people, pop up when an attempt at humour falls flat, and I think that’s what these sort of things are.”

Bailey Smith, Max Holmes and Patrick Dangerfield have come under fire along with Brad Close (not pictured). Credit: Instagram

It was Max Holmes who dressed up as Wilson during the post-season celebrations, though he wasn’t the one who made the posts.

Scott pointed out that Holmes has harmlessly dressed up as SEN’s Gerard Whateley and 7NEWS Melbourne’s Mitch Cleary in the two years prior to Wilson.

“They did tell me that Max has dressed up as a journalist for three years in a row,” Scott said.

“This is one where I assume good intent, but sometimes you can be well intentioned and try to make a gag that either falls flat or crosses the line.

“When it’s the expense of someone else, I think you should think hard about it, and that’s probably what we’re talking about.”

– With AAP