GWS star Toby Greene has kicked four crucial goals but could be in hot water after his high forearm resulted in Patrick Dangerfield being taken to hospital with a throat injury during the Giants’ 19-point AFL upset of Geelong.
Greene’s lively display inspired the severely undermanned visitors as they caused a 13.6 (84) to 8.17 (65) boilover at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night, giving their finals chances a massive boost in the process.
But the enigmatic forward is certain to come under scrutiny from the league’s match review officer (MRO) over an attempted fend-off gone wrong.
“I haven’t seen a replay, but it looked like a football incident at that close range from where I was on the bench,” GWS coach Leon Cameron said.
“I understand he (Dangerfield) has gone to hospital, so our thoughts are with him and hopefully he’s ok.
“But from first thoughts, it just looked like a simple football incident.”
Cats captain Joel Selwood will also likely be looked at by the MRO for a high bump on GWS defender Sam Taylor.
Geelong’s five-match winning streak was brought to an end by a gutsy Giants outfit that has been on the road since fleeing coronavirus-hit Sydney in late June.
In the midst of a tight battle for a top-eight spot, GWS made seven forced changes to their team during the week and lost star midfielder Josh Kelly to a quad complaint not long before bounce down.
Greene and Callan Ward were instrumental while Tim Taranto tallied 34 disposals, nine tackles, six clearances and two goals in an outstanding midfield display.
Taylor and Nick Haynes stood tall in defence and Callum Brown kicked two goals in his first starting appearance.
The Irish recruit was one of 10 players in the Giants team with fewer than 25 games’ experience, prompting Cameron to laud it as one of the “bravest” wins in club history.
“It’s a significant win … it’s probably one of the better wins we’ve had,” Cameron said.
“We’ll enjoy the moment tonight because those wins don’t come around a lot.
“We’ll wake up tomorrow with a smile on our face and look forward to whatever day we’re playing next week.”
GWS lost Brent Daniels to a hamstring injury that left the unlucky midfielder in tears on the bench during the third quarter.
Cam Guthrie (24 disposals) was busy in his 200th game for Geelong, who dominated the inside-50 count (64-44) but lacked efficiency in attack and were beaten in contested possession (154-136).
The Cats had cut a 38-point deficit back to nine points in the final term when Jordan Clark intercepted a clearing kick close to goal with enough time remaining.
But Clark put his shot out on the full and Tanner Bruhn kicked a goal for the Giants a minute later to seal a thrilling win.
As well as Dangerfield, who was set to stay in hospital overnight as a precaution, the Cats lost Gary Rohan (hip) and Zac Tuohy (hamstring) to injuries.
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
Elbows are very pointy and bony and make great weapons as any good hit man knows. It’s up to the players if they want to dissuade elbows in the contacts. The adjudicators have their hands full interpreting the basic rules let alone subtleties of thuggery. The unwritten code at the moment is this sort of thing is not too bad, not common but maybe just a bit over the edge depending on the outcome. Sort of a blurry area that confuse some players. There is also the culture of name players receiving preferential treatment and that comes into play with Toby Green. Mindreading is what we do and Toby had a mind to hurt. Not too bad though as he is expert. You could say he is the players definition of rough niggle that is acceptable. He didn’t think it out in words in the split second that’s not how the creative mind works. It’s an instant mental picture image of elbow to contact with minimal force so as not to hurt too much. It’s a beautifully executed piece of niggle. Designed to hurt but not harm and appearing to be a football act while really a non football act. Put all this in the smokescreen confusion of tribunals and the like and Toby is a free man. It was intentional to elbow contact but will probably be seen as careless or even accidental.
Cloak
Roar Rookie
Greene can consider himself unlucky given Fritsch got off earlier this year. I don't agree with the "he didn't need to raise his arm" argument - it's a natural thing to fend off an incoming tackler. But, I'm also not totally against the AFL taking a stand and saying "if you're going to put your arm up, given the risk of damage from the elbow, you will be suspended if you injure your opponent". However the much bigger issue is Selwood receiving only a fine for electing to bump and making contact to the head. How many times has the AFL told us the head is sacrosanct and bumps need to be executed in a way that doesn't contact the head? We know fines don't deter Selwood, because he keeps getting fined. He should 100% have been suspended. If the box ticking exercise means that action is a fine, then the box ticking exercise needs to be changed. I'll keep saying it until there's change: the MRO system is broken.
Donmac
Roar Rookie
The simple and only question to be asked re this incident is, why did Green or for that matter any other player in the same situation, need to raise his elbow? The answer is, he didn't. Therefore he's gone.
sven
Roar Rookie
yeah u see em all coughing & spluttering with their busted windpipes after dusty's whacked em in the throat ... fair dinkum, get a grip
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
Could be man. Accidental is another category all together isnt it
Clear as mud
Guest
You should try using your elbow and not your hand I reckon
Clear as mud
Guest
There isn’t such a category? Isn’t it kust careless, reckless and intentional?
Kevo
Roar Rookie
Looked similar to the Buddy incident. Buddy’s swing of the elbow looked reactive whilst he was being swung around, but he did swing/raise the elbow and copped the fella around the jaw. Luckily minimal damage done. Toby’s elbow looked more instinctive as self protection but he did raise it in a nano second. Danger already falling/sliding backwards contributed to the accidental high impact. Danger’s injury compounds the issue.
Otsuble
Roar Rookie
Reckless is reckless. He’s a protected species.
Ditto
Roar Rookie
I think Dusty has a few variations of the move depending on time and space available. He does seem to be able to manufacture a pushing effect, rather than a collision between body parts, perhaps it happened too quick for Toby
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Lol, also irrelevant. He's Selwood, he was never getting suspended
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
And we can’t lose him. He was playing like a cut cat.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Hey Pope The Bont has a Halo :stoked:
pablocruz
Roar Rookie
Only a one eyed Geelong supporter would deem this as being okay. Should have got 2 weeks.
dab
Roar Rookie
If Toby does time for this then Hawkins should do time x 2 for his elbow on Steven May.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Like I’ve said before, that’s fine, as long as it’s consistent, but it’s not, only about 5 players in the league would have got away with that. The fact he was hurt or not is completely irrelevant
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Buddy swung his arm back, brushing across the player's shoulder, trying to release his opponent's grip. Didn't even connect with the head. He was probably fortunate he didn't connect with the head, because it certainly looked reckless. But the media overstated that incident I reckon. The opponent wasn't hurt, whereas Toby forearmed Danger in the throat, striking upwards, resulting in Danger going to hospital. Huge difference to the Buddy incident.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
It was nothing, nobody hurt. Free kick on with it.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
That was a beautiful football bump down the middle and freak injury - Haynes was unlucky. Most objective people would look at that incident and agree with the outcome.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
He lifted elbow probably to shrug him off prior to impact rather than intentional but the split second evidence can look damning & he went to hospital & being Toby he tends to have that it wasn’t me man attitude so he could get a couple time for a mohawk!