Toby Greene’s last chance at escaping suspension for Saturday night’s preliminary final against Collingwood is over, after the AFL Tribunal voted to uphold the ban given to him on Tuesday night.
Greene on Tuesday challenged a one-match suspension that was given to him for an offence of ‘unreasonable or unnecessary contact to the eye region’ on Lachie Neale during GWS’ semi-final win over Brisbane.
Despite Neale providing testimony that he had did not recall Greene making any contact to his eye, the tribunal voted to uphold the ban, and Neale remained suspended.
This came after Greene was reported for ‘serious misconduct’ the week prior following a similar incident with Marcus Bontempelli, but was fined $7500 rather than being suspended.
The Giants confirmed less than 30 minutes after Greene’s Tuesday night tribunal hearing finished that they would be appealing the decision.
The appeal was heard by an entirely different tribunal to that which sat on Tuesday, made up of Stephen Jurica and Richard Loveridge, and chaired by Murray Kellam.
Greene was represented by both Adrian Anderson and Ross Gillies, while the AFL was again represented by Nick Pane.
The Giants argued that the decision was so unreasonable that it could not have been reasonably made with regards to the evidence, and that the classification of the offence was excessive or inadequate, with regards to Greene’s conduct being assessed as ‘intentional’.
Gillies argued that the tribunal on Tuesday night had made three errors – he argued that no contact was made to Neale’s eye region, and that any contact made was both negligible, and unintentional.
“There is nothing there to support the three major conclusions. If any one of them is wrong, we win. And they’re all wrong,” said Gillies.
Over a period of more than an hour making his client’s case, Gillies said the Neale testimony on Tuesday had been “good and fairly given”, and that Nick Pane’s assertion that it was “vague” was unfair.
“There is an avalanche of evidence that is completely contradictory to the assertion that Toby Greene made illegal contact to the eye region of Lachie Neale,” said Gillies.
“We don’t know what the Match Review Officer was doing. We don’t know what the tribunal was doing.”
Making his case, Pane insisted the video evidence provided room for an interpretation that Greene was guilty of the offence of which he was accused.
“Having not accepted Greene’s version of events… the issue of why his hand appeared across Neale’s face with that raking movement was such that it was open for the tribunal to find that his actions were intentional,” said Pane.
After a fifteen-minute deliberation, the tribunal decided to uphold Greene’s one-match suspension. He will be available to play in the AFL Grand Final, should the Giants qualify.
Tezza knows
Roar Rookie
He wasn’t because as I said in another post, the Tribunal didn’t and doesn’t have a member with a firm hand, a clear head or a person with good judgement. If they were pro Pies they would have outed Greene the first time, so its not a pro Pies bias, it’s complete incompetence or genuine interference by the AFL at the highest level who will do whatever is required to promote GWS.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Think it was in a final that Carlton lost and got eliminated, so yeah I think the suspension was served at start of following year.
Gee
Roar Rookie
Was that Judd indecent during the finals? They are very lenient to star players during the finals. This little thug would of gotten two weeks first time up and Hawkins at least three in the regular season.
Gary
Roar Rookie
Greene should have been suspended the previous week. Why wasn't he? Why is it that when GWS comes up against Collingwood, in a prelim, that he is suspended, arguably, for a lesser offence? It will be interesting to see what the MRP does if there are similar infringements this weekend.
Larry
Guest
Sick of all these bleeting, lambs Dunstall only one correct.Only 1 person stopping toby greene from playing and thats toby greene. If tribunal had given him the 2 match ban he should of got for the Bont incident, instead of a slap on the wrist he got. As Dunstall said he is a serial offender and only way will alter is idf the club takes a stand or the tribunal bans him out of the game. Been playing 8 years and up 17-18 times that almost 3 times a season. Neale said hit his nose not eye, last time l looked only a cm seperates the 2 if Bont or neale had been injuried in eye or blinded would these whingers still be saying poor toby or would they be supporting the injured
Tezza knows
Roar Rookie
He’s not the target of a witch hunt at all. He has had 18 infractions in eight years, and it’s pretty universally agreed that he got his just desserts. He uncontrollably committed virtually the same act in frighteningly frenzied ways. He brought all this on himself. To boot, his manager, also out of control, said after and during the appeals board hearing that they ( every AFL official) all got it wrong. I put to you that the public watching his out of control attacks on players, would have had genuine concerns about the health of the players Greene infringed. The AFL had to dealt with by him having to serve time, reinforcing the integrity of the game, and looking after the health and safety issues in football, a very highly important KPI. Greene would be wise to make a statement after the dust settles a little, to apologise and indicate that he did need to change his game. Positively, this would be a genuine way to heal himself, and be seen as such so he could start anew. It would be an act of courage, and I think he would be a better player for it. He does not need to hide behind his manager to front the public. He’s sort of smothered by his entourage, and this is not healty. Toby has the character to say sorry, ‘ yeah, I’m gunna change’
Angela
Roar Rookie
The vitriol and mealy-mouthed comments relating to Toby Greene pouring in to this site are a big reason non-Victorian AFL state fans have had it with soviet Victoria and their authoritarian rule over 'their' game. Interestingly, all commentators - previous champions of the game - agree Toby Greene has been the target of a witch hunt. The impression of those of us who follow teams outside the hallowed home of footy is that Victoria, led by the charmer Eddie, would like the game only ever played at the jolly old G. Sneering comments that the Giants would have to face 90,000 opposition fans with only a few going for them emphasises the fact that there is not a crumb of enthusiasm to make AFL truly national. It seems that a GF Collingwood v Richmond is on the cards so 100,000 Victorians can cram into the G and scream at each other. Have fun, the rest of us will be at the beach
barra
Roar Rookie
yeah the massive dummy spits not just from the manager but GWS CEO as well is pretty hilarious actually. Apparently if toby was collingwood he would have gotten off. In fact hes basically saying the MRO were manipulating the outcomes with an eye on benefiting collingwood! great dummy spit. how is this guy a CEO actually? Not normally on the Pies but i will be this weekend. Smash em!
anon
Roar Pro
He's the epitome of the worst aspects of young male culture in this country. It's never his fault, zero accountability, remorseless, thinks the system is out to get him. Leon Cameron and Greene's agent are just enablers at this point.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
If you break the larynx of someones mate retribution happens, Bont got his just deserts
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Ridiculous but I see the high horse patrol is pulling the anti Toby bandwagon on here, I could name a legend of every single club which where more grubbier yet received little of the vitriol directed at green. Plugger, dermie, Ablett snr, libba, riciutto, the Scott bros, Earl Spaulding, Josh and Matt Carr, the list is long and full off accomplished players but no need to consider that before your diatribes fellas.
IAP
Guest
That seems to be the attitude across the board at GWS. Leon Cameron should take some responsibility in this.
Mogofooty
Guest
I wonder if Eddie had a quiet word to reputable ex pies involved in this process!? In all seriousness, the conflicts of interest in this case are a farce.
Mogofooty
Guest
Chappo - did they they take the testimony of the witnesses (neale) into account. Is the video conclusive? Too many mitigating factors here. They are not supposed to factor in the fact he has been there 17 times, they used to but not anymore. Is this correct, probably not but if the AFL wants to maintain standards it's an embarrassment. The system is so inconsistent. How did Ablett get off earlier in the year? I'll tell you why, because he is Ablett? Why did Greene get suspended? Because he is Toby Greene and the AFL wanted to make a statement, clear and loud, we warned you once mate but lets disregard the evidence. Despite all the above I dont like Tony Greene or the Giants, just really frustrated by the way these processes are managed.
Gary
Roar Rookie
Do you think the AFL will ever get it right with Eddie McGuire's repeat behaviour?
Christo the Daddyo
Roar Rookie
1. This is why players' opinions doesn't really get taken seriously. 2. Even if Neale's opinion is technically true, the vision clearly shows Greene making unnecessary contact with the head/eye region. As others have stated, the only astonishing thing is that the Giants thought they could appeal successfully.
Tezza knows
Roar Rookie
You made think what Richnond’s Jack Reiwoldt did in nearly breaking the arm of a player some weeks ago. It was absolutely graphically shown on TV. It was a cruel and very nasty, premeditated act. He should have got 6 weeks for that.
Tezza knows
Roar Rookie
The same result would have occurred!!!!!
Tezza knows
Roar Rookie
I’ve just read what Greene’s manager said to media after the appeals board upheld the suspension. When asked whether Greene needed to change the way he plays the game, he rejected it stating “he just needs to play the game the way he does” It is clear that this manager does not even comprehend how players have to be protected, that players who breach the rules, players that commit serious misconduct, players who attack the face of another in an aggravated way, have to cop the sentence, if only, but very significantly to be accountable for their behaviour. This manager is unfit to manage players after listening to his response
Spanner
Roar Rookie
What if he was a Collingwood player ?