GWS are set to lose one of their biggest stars for their preliminary final next week, after the AFL’s Match Review Officer Michael Christian announced a one-game ban for Toby Greene.
Greene came under scrutiny for an incident in last night’s semi-final where he appeared to make contact using his hand with the face of Lachie Neale. He was charged with ‘unreasonable or unnecessary contact to the eye region’.
The incident was strikingly similar to that which had Greene in hot water last week, where he made the same kind of contact with Western Bulldogs’ star Marcus Bontempelli.
On that occasion, Greene was referred directly to the tribunal by the MRO, on a charge of serious misconduct.
The tribunal hearing was over more quickly that might have been expected. Greene plead guilty and was not forced to describe or defend what he had done.
Despite public scrutiny suggesting that Greene may have engaged in eye-gouging on Bontempelli, neither the AFL nor Greene’s defence made any reference to this specifically during the hearing.
This meant Greene was able to take to the field in last night’s semi-final, and proved crucial in delivering a GWS victory, with 30 disposals and two goals in a game the Giants won by just three points.
The MRO has been more specific on this occasion in terms of the type of punishment he is recommending for Greene’s offence.
By recommending a one-match suspension, the AFL Tribunal – if Greene opts to take his case there – will have to consider upholding a ban, rather than having the ambiguity to settle on a fine for a guilty plea.
Given the footage of this incident is arguably less conclusive than that recorded of Greene’s contact with Bontempelli, GWS may have good reason to challenge the finding.
With a spot in the grand final on the line against Collingwood on Saturday night, expect them to strongly consider doing just that.
Pauline Hindmarsh
Guest
What sort of person deliberately tries to blind another. Does Toby Greene not understand the consequences of his actions.
Steve Franklin
Roar Rookie
The AFL are the weakest governing sports body on the planet,if he had done what he has done in the last couple of weeks especially the job he done in the bulldogs game he would have got 10 weeks or more,but as usual the AFL are as weak as. Just goes to show who is actually running the games - THE PLAYERS and the umpires not the AFL their ball-less.
Yawn of the Dead
Guest
such master plotters they blew it completely last year by drawing them together in the PF.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Have they said they weren't? But you are right, simply scratching and clawing at someones face or pulling their hair and banging their head repeatedly into the ground while someone else lies on them making it impossible to defend themselves is a completely tolerable act and shouldn't be punished. Sheesh!
Jay
Guest
Are you calling the Bont and Neale liars? Neither have said he eye gouged as far as I am aware.
Unknown Quantity
Roar Rookie
Obviously Toby acts like a bit of a d**khead and needs to learn how to assert himself on the game without going outside the rulebook, but I originally thought he would get off. Seemed inconclusive. With this new footage, however, he is gone. He has been making a joke of the entire judiciary system for years, he clearly couldn't care less about getting fined, and now they have clear evidence of him going at his eye area. Yeah, na buddy, take some time off and figure out what's important to you as a footballer.
JamesH
Roar Guru
https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-finals-toby-greene-incident-shown-in-exclusive-new-footage-c-454534?fbclid=IwAR2cYSGl7lol1fYeQa78dZ3OoowOgGB0ynBcGt00IC0lsCcVIMoDLXldDJ8 At about 24s in the video. It's still not the clearest image but it's more than they had with Bont.
Nick
Roar Guru
Just saw it... he's gone. He's lucky to not get 3+ weeks to be honest
JamesH
Roar Guru
Last week they didn't have a clear shot of Green's hand on the player's face. This week they do, which is why it was graded under the MRO points system and didn't go straight to the tribunal.
Nick
Roar Guru
Yeah, I've just seen a few comments suggesting that. I haven't seen the footage yet - is there a link?
Nick
Roar Guru
Tom Hawkins not having Waleed Aly give a character reference already puts him on the back foot. Perhaps Cameron "Mayor of Geelong" Ling should?
JamesH
Roar Guru
I don't think he thinks.
JamesH
Roar Guru
They've found an angle showing his hand clawing at Neale's face.
Nick
Roar Guru
I know...I love the faux elitism when people say they don't have a TV but watch everything instead on a computer. The challenge is to not have a monitor/ device to project moving images
Nick
Roar Guru
He'll get off. It's not as bad as the Bont incident, and the footage is inconclusive.
RT
Roar Rookie
Like Gaff last year, or Houli the year before that, Hawkins didn't mean to hit him in the head....but he did.
IAP
Guest
He might pretend he does, but no-one on this planet would like having 90,000 people baying for their blood.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
No not at all but there was a suggestion that high contact only results in free kicks.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
He likes the boos IAP.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Gaff broke the lad's jaw. No comparison.