Bailey Smith a work in progress after 'poor season off the track', admits Cats star Patrick Dangerfield

Geelong veteran Patrick Dangerfield joked his star teammate Bailey Smith had "a poor season off the track" before admitting there is work to be done on the latter's off-field behaviour.

Smith, 25, was one of the the most talked about players in the AFL last year for a variety of reasons.

His performances on the field for the Cats throughout his first season at the club were strong. He finished third in the Brownlow Medal voting and polled 29 votes - a tally that would have won him the award just a few years ago.

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But his talents were often overshadowed by controversy.

His indiscretions last year alone included flipping off fans while walking off the field; using emojis to suggest illicit drug use on social media; yelling foul-mouthed abuse at a female photographer during a Geelong training session; and showing up to Brownlow night rocking sunglasses and refusing to do a sensible media interview.

Smith also single-handedly got the Cats' infamous Mad Monday celebrations cancelled when he published several tasteless social media posts from the event, later being criticised as homophobic and sexist.

Public interest in is life away from football also exploded when he was snapped holding hands with influencer Tammy Hembrow.

At the AFL captain's day this week Dangerfield replied with a chuckle when asked how Smith's pre-season had been so far.

"It's been really good," he told 3AW's Wide World of Sports radio.

"He's had a great pre-season on the track. Poor season off the track... that's OK, we'll get there eventually.

"One day, at some point, hopefully soon... but not yet."

The Cats were forced to announce the end of Mad Monday celebrations following Smith's controversial posts.

"Yeah, we're never doing them again... until we do," Dangerfield said with a smirk.

It came after they lost the AFL grand final to Brisbane, in which Smith was a standout early in the game but then lost his head in the final quarter and tried to fight several Lions players when the result was basically decided.

Dangerfield says the Cats have barely spoken about the grand final, and don't plan to any time soon.

"We haven't spent too much time on the granny," he said.

"I don't think there is much point. We know the sort of areas we need to improve on.

"There's no point spending too much time on the past. It's more about team changes, how can you improve when every team in the game will improve."

Geelong begins its season on March 6 against the Suns.