Toby Greene will miss the first five weeks of the 2022 AFL season, after the league doubled his original suspension for his infamous bump on umpire Matt Stevic.
The Giants vice-captain was originally handed a three-match ban by the AFL Tribunal after their one-point elimination final victory over Sydney, but was sent to the AFL Appeals Board after officials described the suspension as ‘manifestly inadequate’.
The official suspension length is six weeks; however, Greene has already served one match on the sidelines, having missed the Giants’ semi final loss to Geelong.
The club’s request for the AFL to delay its appeal until the end of the season was agreed to by the league, but it hasn’t lessened his suspension in a major blow to the Giants’ hopes of another finals appearance in 2022.
AFL counsel Jeff Gleeson described the incident as a “bar room act” in his successful argument for an extended sentence.
“If you aggressively walk through an umpire, you don‘t get a three-match sanction. It’s too light and obviously too light,” he said.
“A three-match ban conveys it was inappropriate, but not seriously so.
“We shouldn‘t be distracted by contact being relatively minor. If it was major, Mr Greene wouldn’t be playing AFL football again.
“To any way diminish the gravity of the act by reference to the contact being minor misunderstands the need for the sanction for this sort of conduct.
“The message that needs to be communicated to Mr Greene and all players and participants and viewers and umpires and prospective umpires is you simply do not aggressively touch an umpire.”
Greene’s defence argued the suspension wasn’t the full extent of the star forward’s punishment for the act, claiming the ongoing stress over his “playing state” and conjecture over his chequered history should be taken into account.
“He has had to face his teammates and his inability to play in one of the finals games and if GWS made it all the way to the grand final Mr Greene would not have been eligible,” Greene’s representative said.
Greene’s team also argued Stevic’s own belief that the incident was minor and not overstepping the mark should be considered. However, that was dismissed by tribunal chair Murray Kellam QC, who said the experience of the umpire “doesn’t alter” Greene’s actions.
“The main concern is protecting umpires from disrespectful behaviour, the fact that it involves a 400-game umpire doesn’t alter that fact,” Kellam said.
“It doesn’t help, does it, that one particular individual was tough but had so much experience it didn‘t affect him much?
“It could’ve been a first-game umpire.”
Greene’s suspension was always going to be divisive in the AFL community, as allegations of a so-called ‘Toby Tax’ have dominated discussion in 2022. Former player turned commentator David King agreed with the verdict, telling SEN 1116: “The umpires are a no-go zone. Three [weeks] was never a severe enough penalty.”
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
"stop doing dog acts" What's with the plurals? Once is enough to kick this exquisite playing genius to the kerb, unless the AFL is not serious of course! :stoked: They celebrate these palookas - that boofhead Hall, Inmate Cousins just a couple of weeks ago at their mediocrities and drunks awards. Cheering them on as icons to advertise the code is pretty clever, eh?
O M
Roar Rookie
Hmmmm. Very likely RT.
RT
Roar Rookie
Is this why the AFL didn't ask for 8 or more weeks?
O M
Roar Rookie
3.2.2 Criteria for Deregistration (a) Players i) Players shall be automatically deregistered and not allowed further registration with the same or another Club or League (except in accordance with section 3.3) if the Player has served a combined total of sixteen (16) matches Suspension (or greater) as a Player or Official (including as a Player during the Player’s AFL Competition career, subject to section 3.2.2(c) below) as a result of Reportable Offences only. For the avoidance of doubt, a Player who is deregistered will also not be allowed to act as an Official in the same or another League or in any Competition. The other 17 Teams should deliberately try and get under his skin and see if he offends. One more report and he’s gone from the game! I for one would not miss the guy.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
What do you think he should have got? You seem to be conflating some name-calling with a physical threat. Have you been threatened physically?
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Never has one baby faced assassin outraged so many.
Mooty
Roar Rookie
He currently sits on 14 weeks of total suspension, am I right in saying that if you accumulate 16 weeks you are automatically deregistered. That seems to ring a bell with me somehow
Mooty
Roar Rookie
GWS are owned by the AFL and they need them to keep succeeding, I doubt Greene will be going anywhere, he would be on too big dollars for other clubs. From memory he gets off a lot at the tribunal, or just gets fines. Very lucky for a player of his ilk.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
The pies might even pay half his salary :laughing:
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Swans are keen on Moore not sure they have room in salary cap?
O M
Roar Rookie
I’d take Moore at the Tigers….he’s a gun, although his disposal lets him down a bit. DeGoey can go to GWS, he’d fit in nicely….the culture there suits him.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Heard De Goey & Moore might or could move on if the deal is right!
Chanon
Roar Rookie
On a three year deal :silly:
O M
Roar Rookie
Team full of crap blokes! I see one of their biggest dills has gone to PA!
Chanon
Roar Rookie
When we play them they pinch & bite & scrag & like to stick fingers in holes :laughing:
O M
Roar Rookie
Summed it up beautifully.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
We have a mutual dislike must be a West thingy!
O M
Roar Rookie
Doggies don't like 'em much do they Chan?
Gary
Roar Rookie
No, i am saying you need to pay attention in future, because you haven't noticed inconsistencies at the tribunal in the past.
XI
Roar Guru
Because it illustrates that they don't actually care about improving safety for umpires. They want the appearance of doing something while not doing anything to make us safer.