The AFL have issued a warning to Geelong superstar Bailey Smith over his social media activity after he referenced drug use in a post over the weekend.

Smith has been a walking headline since entering the AFL, but the hype has gone into overdrive this year in his first season at the Cats.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: AFL issues warning to Bailey Smith over ‘nose beer’ post.

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The 23-year-old continued his hot start on the field with another brilliant performance against former club Western Bulldogs on Thursday night.

But it was his post on social media after the match that raised eyebrows.

Smith posted a series of photos from the game and praised 300-game milestone man Mitch Duncan, as well as referencing the Indigenous jumper designed by teammate Lawson Humphries’ sister, Meeza.

A fan left a comment saying, “nose beers after the game mate,” to which Smith replied “na bro, after the flag maybe tho”.

Nose beers is another name for cocaine.

The comment was later deleted, but not before it was widely circulated.

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said the league have been in contact with Geelong over the past 48 hours.

“We are talking with Geelong and talking with Bailey and we wouldn’t want to see it again,” he said.

“Bailey is a role model and he has to be cognisant of that when he’s engaging in the public or on social media.

“I know that the club are talking to Bailey and counselling him about that. Reminding him that he is a role model for hundreds and thousands of boys and girls out there.

“But in relation to Bailey he delivered the comments, he put up an apology and I absolutely don’t condone it. Drug use is a serious thing and shouldn’t be joked about. If he has time again, I’m not sure he’d do it.”

Outgoing AFL Players’ Association CEO Paul Marsh said Smith made an “error”.

“What I will say about Bailey is I think he is a breath of fresh air for the industry and I think the industry is crying out for players to show their personality and people flock to him,” he said.

“Sometimes players make errors of judgement, Bailey’s made one here.

“Everyone loves him and is hanging off everything he’s doing and saying. It’s not something that we want glorified, illicit drugs, it’s not something that necessarily sits comfortably. But there’s an element of him showing some personality. I took it as something that was tongue in cheek.

“Maybe, with his time again, he wouldn’t do it. But, at the same time, I don’t think we want to take him down for actually showing a bit of personality at a time where I think it’s getting more difficult to show personality because of the criticism that flows when people do.

Geelong coach Chris Scott had already defended Smith over the weekend.

“My take on it, not just in the footy world but in society, you can’t have it both ways,” Scott said on ABC.

“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.

“I just think that’s a loss of perspective, and with Bailey, remember he is 23.

“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.

“It’s a balance between, certainly not condoning behaviour, you prefer didn’t happen, but also keeping it in perspective as much as possible.”

Scott added that he is happy for Smith to be on the “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.

“I think it’s an example of that edginess.”

In 2022, Smith was banned for two matches after he admitted to using an illicit substance.

Since joining Geelong in a blockbuster trade last off-season, he has been in the spotlight but has largely let his football do the talking.

The midfielder has surged into Brownlow Medal contention and looks a lock for his maiden All-Australian blazer.

But he has also been fined multiple times for an obscene gesture after he was spotted flipping the bird in consecutive weeks.