The Western Bulldogs and Bailey Smith have confirmed the white powder he was photographed holding in a small bag was an illicit substance.
Images circulated online today of the suspended Western Bulldogs AFL star appearing to hold up a bag containing white powder to the camera.
The Bulldogs’ star was also filmed sniffing an unknown substance in a separate video. In the footage, separate from the image of Bailey holding a bag with white powder, a woman says, ‘I need a straw’.
Several moments later, he leans over, sniffs something, wipes his nose, and then leans over again.
‘We are extremely disappointed to have observed social media content showing Bailey Smith with an illicit substance,’ Western Bulldogs CEO Ameet Bains said in a statement on Saturday.
The photos and video were captured after the 2021 AFL season, while the players were on personal leave. It was during a period before Smith took extended personal leave from the club to deal with mental health related issues.
‘After much reflection, I am now in a position to confess to indulging in behaviours in late 2021 of which I am deeply ashamed,’ he said.
‘I do not have an excuse for those behaviours, however the state of my mental health over that period post Grand Final dramatically deteriorated, and I spiralled out of control leading to poor decision making and actions at the time.
‘All of this resulting in the leave I took from football at the commencement of pre-season training late last year.
‘The depth of my emotions over that period, coupled with some of my behaviours, have reminded me that, as a person, I am still very much a work-in-progress.
Statement from Western Bulldogs chief executive Ameet Bains
We are extremely disappointed to have observed social media content showing Bailey Smith with an illicit substance.
This content was captured after the 2021 AFL season, while the players were on personal leave.
We absolutely do not condone our players being involved with illicit substances and firmly believe players are well-educated on what constitutes appropriate behaviour.
As a football club with significant influence, we have a responsibility to uphold the highest of standards, as we represent the community, our members and fans, our corporate partners and our other stakeholders.
Bailey is a young man who has faced many challenges and pressures off the field in recent times which he has spoken of extensively. He endured a particularly difficult time towards the end of last year that ultimately led to time away from football.
While this clearly does not excuse his behaviour, it is our responsibility as a Club to ensure we have supported, and we continue to support, Bailey’s health and wellbeing.
We are encouraged that this year, Bailey has successfully put steps in place to ensure he can manage his mental health and be strong in his decision-making, while being able to perform to the best of his ability on the field. This has been reflected in his strong on-field performances across the 2022 AFL season.
The Club has supported Bailey through this process, and we will continue to work closely with him and provide him the support he needs, as he continues his journey as a Bulldogs player.
The Club and the AFL Integrity Unit continue to investigate the emergence of the content on social media and the context surrounding it. An outcome of that investigation will be communicated in due course.
‘I know I have obligations beyond myself, not just contractually – but in terms of the example I set through the decisions I make, and I will be better.
‘I have made mistakes. I am very aware of that, and I fully own it.
‘I unreservedly apologise to my family, my teammates, my club and its sponsors, the AFL, my supporters and my sponsors.
‘I have made mistakes, but I resolve to learn from each and to do all I can to avoid letting myself down, and those around me.’
Daily Mail Australia does not know what the substance depicted in the video was and there is no suggestion of any illegal activities by any of the parties in the footage.
The footage shows Smith (with his back to the camera) appearing to snort an unknown substance in a nightclub
The Dogs star then turns around and grabs his nose. He has now confessed that he used illicit drugs in the aftermath of the club’s grand final loss last year
It’s believed that the video was taken late last year, weeks after the Bulldogs lost the 2021 Grand Final to Melbourne in Perth.
Under the AFL’s illicit drugs policy, players who test positive to illicit substances are protected by anonymity, receive no suspension, are fined $5000 and are required to undergo counselling.
However, because this incident has played out in a public forum on social media, Smith now faces a suspension from the AFL.
Former St Kilda defender Jake Carlisle is the most recent precedent of an incident like this occurring on social media and he was banned for two matches in 2016.
The image shows suspended star Smith holding up a bag containing an illicit drug. He could face a hefty suspension and fine from the AFL as a result
Tuohy reacts after receiving a headbutt from Bailey Smith during the 2022 AFL Round 12 match between the Western Bulldogs and the Geelong Cats at Marvel Stadium
Earlier this week Smith expressed his remorse for the headbutt incident and said he had let his emotions get the better of him,
‘I’m disappointed to be missing the next two matches, and regret that I won’t be able to help my teammates on the field during that period,’ he said.
‘I understand what happened was outside of what’s expected of AFL players. Unfortunately, I let my emotions get the better of me, which is out of character for me.
‘I am determined to come back in a couple of weeks to continue giving 100 per cent for my teammates and the club.’
Former Hawks skipper Luke Hodge has urged the Bulldogs to closely monitor Bailey Smith’s wellbeing.
‘What the Doggies have to do is make sure this kid is OK because he is going to be rock bottom right now,’ he told SEN.
‘There will be out there saying yeah so he should be and fair enough in that opinion, but the most important thing for the next few weeks or few months while he is trying to improve or make up for any mistake he might have done, he is going to be rock bottom.
‘It is a big job for his friends and his family and the Western Bulldogs and they need to look after him.’
A still from the video of Smith and his mates in full party mode, with the star midfielder claiming he had been awake 48 hours and ‘sleep was for the weak’
Smith was at the centre of another social media incident following the Western Bulldogs AFL grand final loss to the Melbourne Demons last season.
Video appeared on social media platform TikTok of Smith at a nightclub boasting about being awake for 48 hours and his desire for female attention.
‘At the end of the day it’s about the f***king ticka. We’re here right, we’re here. We ain’t slept in 48 hours. Sleep is for the f**cking weak,’ he said in the video.
Smith drowns his sorrows in a Perth nightclub following the Western Bulldogs grand final defeat to the Melbourne Demons in 2021
A complaint was also made against Smith by a 22-year-old Gold Coast man who accused Smith of pushing him outside of a pub last October. No charges were laid by Queensland Police.
‘The club has conducted its own investigation and is satisfied that no further action is required at this point in time,’ the club said in a statement at the time.
In 2018 Smith said he had never hosted a party or touched alcohol and had no plans to until he was ‘really old’.
‘I’ve never had it [alcohol], it’s a mental thing, it’s just not worth it,’ Smith told Fairfax Media.
‘I’ve come this far, why waste it?
‘I might [try it] when I’m old. Like, really old.’
Smith posted this picture of his ripped abs on Instagram as part of a series of racy images. An image was cropped and circulated, claiming to be a leaked nude photo of the midfielder
In 2020 rumours circulated that a nude photo of Smith was being circulated on social media. Smith later debunked those rumours and said an image he had posted had been edited to insinuate he was naked in the racy snap.
The original photo was part of a series of images Smith posted to Instagram and showed him standing in front of a mirror showing his jacked abs with the slogan ‘be the sunshine’ included.
While celebrating the end of the season in Perth, Smith was asked about the image by a group of female fans at a bar. He showed them the original image as proof that there was no nude photo leaked.
