AFL comes down hard on GWS post-season event as Toby Greene's manager questions sanctions
Several Giants players have been slapped with fines and bans for a post-season event.
The AFL has come down hard on the GWS players involved in "inappropriate" behaviour at an end-of-season function last month. Following an investigation, GWS player Josh Fahey was slapped with a four-match ban, while Giants forward Jake Riccardi, Joe Fonti, Toby McMullin, Harvey Thomas and Cooper Hamilton were handed two-match bans.
Captain Toby Greene and fellow senior players Lachie Whitfield, Connor Idun, Tom Green, Sam Taylor and Lachie Keeffe all were fined $5000 apiece. In announcing the penalties late on Thursday afternoon, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said the players involved had made "terrible choices".
He confirmed an anonymous complaint was made to the AFL integrity portal the day after the September 18 event, where players had a "controversial couples" dress-up theme. "What went on at the venue was completely unacceptable ... I'm really disappointed," Dillon said.
"As part of this theme players dressed up in themed pairs and many performed skits connected to their costumes," the league said in a statement. "In the view of the AFL and the club, some of the skits were completely unacceptable and totally at odds with the code's values."
Toby Greene's manager questions captain's sanctions
It comes as earlier on Thursday Greene's manager questioned whether a $20,000 fine from the AFL for the captain's role in the Giants' post-season event is excessive. On Thursday, Paul Connors acknowledged Greene 'needed to do better' as a leadership figure, especially in the absence of two vice-captains Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly, but believes the $20,000 penalty rumoured to be handed to his client was too harsh.
The scandal arose after an anonymous complaint was made about the 'Wacky Wednesday' party - which had a 'troubled couples' theme - in regards to the outfits players wore and the skits they performed on the night. In response to the complaint, GWS and the league looked into what transpired at the function, held in the week following the club's straight-sets finals exit.
The Giants noted that some of the allegations were "distressing and entirely contrary to the club's values and policies". While several GWS players are set to be handed fines and suspensions as a result of the AFL's investigation into the post-season function.
Greene - who went dressed as Olympic break dancer Raygun - reportedly wasn't involved in the controversial skits on the night. But he is still expected to be punished to the tune of $20,000 for not putting an end to what was going on. And while Connors told SEN on Thursday he is okay with his client being reprimanded for failing to put a stop to it, he feels $20,000 is over the top.
Connors also mentioned that retrospectively Greene acknowledges he should have done better but at the time was emotionally drained from the devastating finals defeat at the hands of the Lions and had little interest in the night in question. "Toby accepts that he's the leader of the club and he needed to be better," Connors told SEN on Thursday.
"But additionally, he had as much interest in being on that Mad Monday as you would have done. He'd lost a game (where) he was up by 44 points. He was emotionally drained and not in a state of thinking about anything. So yes, Toby accepts that he could have done things better, but again, it's others to debate whether $20,000 is too much."
AFL hands down several sanctions
Several reports emerged on Wednesday that a handful of players dressed up in inappropriate costumes and performed "inappropriate" skits at the Giants' end-of-season function. One player reportedly dressed as former NRL player Jarryd Hayne and carried a blow-up sex doll, while others allegedly came dressed as New York's former Twin Towers.
The Age also reported an inappropriate reference to American rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs was made at the party. Combs is currently under investigation following his arrest over sex-trafficking allegations. He has plead not guilty.
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News Melbourne's chief footy reporter Tom Morris reports the players made submissions to administrators in a bid to have the "hefty" sanctions reduced. "GWS players are today making submissions in relation to proposed AFL penalties," Morris wrote on X on Wednesday. "Some players have been hit with hefty fines, even if they weren't involved directly with the skit.
"Captain Toby Greene is one of these, who has been sanctioned $20k, essentially for not showing adequate leadership in the situation." Morris also noted other players - including youngster Josh Fahey - have been hit with match penalties.
However, as the AFL handed down the official reprimands on Wednesday evening, Greene was fined just $5,000, the same amount as fellow senior players Lachie Whitfield, Connor Idun, Tom Green, Sam Taylor and Lachie Keeffe.
with AAP
