The AFL hands down bans and fines to several GWS players for their behaviour at an end-of-season function.
After an AFL Integrity Unit investigation, the players were found to have breached AFL rule 2.3a, which involves conduct unbecoming.
Young Giant Josh Fahey has been banned for four matches while Jake Riccardi, Joe Fonti, Toby McMullin, Harvey Thomas and Cooper Hamilton have all been banned for two games.
Captain Toby Greene and other senior Giants players Sam Taylor, Tom Green, Lachie Keefe, Harry Perryman, Connor Idun and Lachie Whitfield have been fined $5000 each.
Whitfield and Idun were fined for both their role in performing a skit and for a breach of leadership duties, while the other senior Giants were penalised for not intervening as leaders of the club.
"There is nothing funny or clever about these actions and we are not as a code and competition prepared to accept these behaviours," AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said.
"For the most part our clubs and our AFL players do the right thing and can come together to celebrate or commiserate without the type of behaviour demonstrated here.
"What transpired at the function is not acceptable – not to the other men, women or anyone who is part of the club. Not for all the people in our industry and not for the wider public."
Zak Butters' latest fine has put him dangerous close to the all-time leader in Match Review penalties.
Butters has already been billed an incredible $29,375 worth of fines and served a two-match ban during his relatively short AFL career so far.
Butters, still only 23 years of age, has been charged 15 times across his first 107 appearances. Of those, 13 have resulted in the nearly 30-grand worth of fines, one has led to a suspension, and the other was thrown out at the AFL Tribunal.
It has Butters just one charge away from overtaking Toby Greene as the League's most levied player, with the star Greater Western Sydney captain the only player to have exceeded $30,000 worth of AFL fines.
Greene's exact tab currently sits at a whopping $31,850. That's the result of 24 different charges across his 228-game career, which have tallied nine matches worth of suspensions and 17 incidents deemed worthy of financial sanctions.
Toby Greene will be the second GWS player to hit the 200-game mark when he takes to the field against Geelong this week.
He is now the Giants' second highest goalkicker, a best-and-fairest winner, two-time All-Australian and crucially, the captain.
"It's massive. It shows the person that he is," Giants coach Adam Kingsley said.
"It's a true reflection of the character, the loyalty he has for the footy club and it tells the club that he's all in. It encourages the guys coming through now to follow suit."
Toby Greene has sought advice from Trent Cotchin as he takes on the sole captaincy of GWS in 2023.
"He is just someone I really admire. We've actually clashed a bit on the field, but I've always admired the way he's gone about it and the way he changed the model of his game, really," Greene said.
"He used to be a high possession midfielder and he turned into a tough, inspirational player who did everything for the team. I was always impressed by that. He let others do what he did previously. I thought maybe that's something that I can try and incorporate."
Toby Greene will lead the Giants as captain in 2023, with Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly to be vice-captains.
"I've come a long way and it took a long time, but I've done a lot of work on my leadership skills," Greene said.
"As a young kid I was probably nowhere near it and was trying to find my way in AFL footy but I'm in my twelfth season now and I've been here since the start.
"It's a massive honour and I'll be certainly putting all my time and effort into doing the best job I can."
Toby Greene will miss the first five matches of the 2022 season after the AFL Appeals Board increased the Greater Western Sydney superstar's suspension to six games for making intentional contact with an umpire.
Greene originally received a three-match ban after he was found guilty of intentional contact with umpire Matt Stevic during the Giants' one-point elimination final win over Sydney in late August. He served the first of those matches in GWS' semi-final loss to Geelong a week later.
"Intentional contact with umpires will not be tolerated. Umpies at all levels have to know they can carry out their vital function with confidence. Respect for umpires is at the heart of the game. The image of the game must be protected," chairman Murray Kellam said.
"This is a message that goes further than AFL players, a message to the Australian football community as a whole. A strong message has to be sent. The community must know that umpires will be treated with respect."
The AFL's Appeals Board will meet on October 7 to decide on whether to extend Toby Greene's three-match suspension for making intentional contact with an umpire.
The League has opted to appeal what it described as a "manifestly inadequate" punishment for making aggressive, disrespectful and demonstrative contact with umpire Matt Stevic in August.
Toby Greene will not play football again in 2021 after the AFL Tribunal handed him a three-match suspension for making intentional contact with umpire Matt Stevic.
After a marathon hearing on Tuesday morning that lasted well over four hours, the Tribunal agreed with AFL legal counsel Jeff Gleeson QC that Greene's actions were "insolent and contemptuous".
They found Greene guilty of intentionally making "aggressive, demonstrative and disrespectful" contact to umpire Stevic, handing the Giants forward a sanction that will end his 2021 campaign.
Toby Greene is sent directly to the AFL Tribunal for his bump on umpire Matt Stevic, deemed to be deliberate, during the Giants' elimination final win over Sydney.
Greene was talking with Stevic and then made contact as he walked past on the way to the Giants' team huddle at the final change.
Toby Greene will be a Giant for life after signing a two-year extension to his initial contract that will keep him with Greater Western Sydney until at least the end of the 2026 season.
"I've always known my future was at the Giants, it's been my home since I was 18," Greene said.
Stephen Coniglio will remain skipper of the Giants in 2021 while Toby Greene has been elevated to the role of vice-captain.
Phil Davis, Jacob Hopper, Lachie Whitfield, Josh Kelly and Matt de Boer round out the club's leadership group.
"It's an honour to be vice-captain of a club that I love so much and that has given me so much in my life. Leadership is something I've worked really hard on developing. It's an area I want to continue to improve in," Greene said.
"I'm really proud to support 'Cogs' as our captain. We've got a really strong group that will drive us forward in 2021."
Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron is full of praise for Toby Greene after the small forward inspired his team to a 12-point win over reigning premiers Richmond with five goals.
"He causes instability for the opposition defence because of his workrate and competitiveness," Cameron said about Greene.
"What we do love is that he hates getting beaten and he's always in the contest. The reason he can bob up and kick five goals is that he never gives up, that's his greatest trait. Our players love playing with him because he drives the players beside him to be better."
Stephen Coniglio recounts the drama that both he and teammate Toby Greene found themselves in last October during a visit to the San Siro in Italy to watch his beloved Juventus play.
"When people say don't wear opposition colours to a game in Italy, make sure you don't. As we were walking into the game, I had one (scarf) ripped off my neck and thrown into the crowd," Coniglio told the Greats with Garby podcast.
"(Higuain) scored the late winner and we quickly ran out, (but) no taxis would take us because Toby still had his scarf on. Before anyone saw us, we slipped a cab driver 20 extra euros to take us back to the town before anything happened.
"Next minute we're in the cab and maybe, maybe, maybe at some point the scarf went out the window. But the traffic coming out of the game, you're at a standstill. The poor cab driver had his mirrors taken off and I had spit all over me, because the cab driver was an Inter supporter and wouldn't put the window up in time. We almost had two broken windows to go with it as well. It was a scary, but funny moment."
Giants captain Stephen Coniglio says teammate Toby Greene deserves greater respect than currently afforded to him by the greater AFL community.
"If he did play for a big side in Melbourne, we would be talking more about what football player he is, not what type of person he is, because the type of person he is a phenomenal one," Coniglio said about Greene in an interview with Damian Barrett.
"He was (stand-in) captain of our club, that doesn't come lightly, especially in an organisation like ours where we pride ourselves on having a really strong culture.
"He's a very intellectual, smart guy, loyal. A great guy, a great friend, and I just want him to get to the end of his career and he is celebrated for the right reasons. Let's celebrate the guy and what he does for the game."
Stephen Coniglio will captain GWS in 2020 as part of a six-man leadership group.
The Giants won't have any vice-captains under Coniglio, instead entrusting Josh Kelly and Matt de Boer to support the star midfielder, along with newcomers Jeremy Cameron, Toby Greene and Lachie Whitfield.
Phil Davis and Callan Ward have stepped away from the Giants' leadership group after eight seasons as co-captains of the club.
"We're very fortunate at the Giants to have some outstanding leaders and I'm really confident in the mix of players that will be supporting Stephen as on-field leaders," GWS footy boss Jason McCartney said.
Toby Greene's estranged father, Michael Greene, is remanded in custody after allegedly headbutting a policewoman at the 2019 AFL Grand Final.
The 60-year-old was also charged with public drunkenness and committing an indictable offence while on bail.
"It's obviously not the perfect scenario for (Toby) to be in. We'll put our arms around him. He's a terrific person so what we'll do is support him," GWS co-captain Phil Davis said.
As he prepares to play in the 2019 AFL Grand Final, Toby Greene says he will be spurred on by an intensely personal tragedy.
Greene spoke on Friday of his determination to win a premiership in memory of his cousin Finley, who took his own life in June. The pair spent much of their childhood together.
"It was obviously a really tragic thing that happened during the year. I sort of kept it quiet, but mum spoke about it a bit during this week," Greene said at the Grand Final parade.
"My cousin and their family, we were really close with them our whole childhood, so it was a very sad time. Hopefully, we can make him smile tomorrow."
After serving a one-game ban, Toby Greene will take his place in the Giants' 2019 Grand Final side following their win over Collingwood in the preliminary final.
"I've never played in one (a Grand Final) so I'm looking forward to running out with 21 of my best mates," Greene said.
"It's an amazing opportunity and something I've been wanting to do since I can remember."
Toby Greene will miss the Giant's preliminary final against Collingwood after failing to overturn his one-match ban.
"We've put forward two very good arguments this week. We obviously felt that the evidence was all in Toby's favour and we're stunned, as a lot of people would be, by the decision tonight," Giants CEO Dave Matthews said.
Greene's legal representative, Ross Gillies QC, had argued that Tuesday night's Tribunal jury got a "trilogy" of decisions "perversely incorrect" in upholding his one-match ban.
He claimed that no contact was made to the eye region of Brisbane midfielder Lachie Neale, that any contact that may have been made was negligible and that any contact that may have been made was not intentional.
However, after another marathon hearing that lasted exactly two hours, an AFL Appeals Board rejected such claims, ruling once and for all that Greene will be unavailable for Saturday's crucial final.
AFL Gillon McLachlan later rejected a suggestion from Greene's manager, Paul Connors, that his client had been victimised.
"It has gone through the process. Everyone has their views but an independent process has validated this," McLachlan said.
The Giants will be without superstar forward Toby Greene for this weekend's blockbuster preliminary final against the Magpies, with his contentious one-match ban for making contact with the eyes of Lachie Neale upheld at the AFL Tribunal.
The Tribunal opted to ignore the favourable evidence of Neale, who told them he felt contact to his nose – but not his eyes – after being called to provide evidence by the Giants.
Such was the surprising nature of the result – given both the evidence of Neale and Greene – Greater Western Sydney now appears likely to launch an appeal.
Toby Greene is free to take part in Greater Western Sydney's semi-final clash against Brisbane this weekend, with the Giants superstar fined $7500 for serious misconduct following his scuffle with Western Bulldogs midfielder Marcus Bontempelli.
Greene laid himself at the mercy of the AFL Tribunal on Monday night, entering a guilty plea and issuing an apology to Bontempelli at the witness stand.
Ultimately, his remorse – and a favourable medical report from the Bulldogs that revealed Bontempelli suffered no injury as a result of the incident – saved Greene from a suspension.
"I apologise to Marcus for my actions. Obviously, it was nervous times there and I'm extremely apologetic for what I did, but I can't wait to get out there this Saturday night," Greene said afterwards.
Toby Greene is in danger of missing the Giants' semi-final against Brisbane after being charged with serious misconduct following Greater Western Sydney's elimination final victory over the Western Bulldogs.
Greene was involved in a series of offences involving Marcus Bontempelli. He is understood to have made contact with his fingers to the region around Bontempelli’s eyes, dug his forearm into his head and also appears at one stage to pull the hair of the Western Bulldogs midfielder.
Greene was charged for the totality of the incidents, instead of one single offence.
Toby Greene is relishing his longest run of games since 2016 as the Giants look to build their biggest winning streak of the season.
After being limited to just nine matches in 2018 and just one of their first five in this campaign, Greene has now played seven in a row in the same season for the first time in three years, averaging 31 touches a match in that period.
"I'm just enjoying playing footy to be honest. It's just been great to get some continuity and it's a lot more fun than sitting on the sidelines," Greene acknowledged.
Toby Greene leads the Giants to a 47-point victory over Collingwood at Showground Stadium as stand-in skipper following injuries to the rest of the GWS leadership group.
"I guess I had to, I had no choice. Leon asked me and I jumped at the opportunity," Greene said.
"I thought it would be a great chance to stand up, (leadership) is something I've been working on for a couple of years and it was a great honour to lead the club.
"My Mum was probably even happier than I was but it was a pretty cool experience."
GWS coach Leon Cameron is disappointed by comments made by AFL Hall of Fame Legend Malcolm Blight on forward Toby Greene.
Blight said Greene "should never have been born," in reference to the crackdown on the studs-up rule this season which Blight believes is a result of the Giants star raising his boots dangerously.
"Toby Greene should never have been born," Blight jokingly said on SEN.
"It's his fault. Of course it is. We've been doing it for 120 years and everyone's been quite happy with it."
Cameron said although it's important to have fun in sport, commentators needed to be careful on the pressure placed on athletes.
"It's really disappointing that Toby's probably the brunt of those jokes for most of the time. He gets pulled into anything whether he's playing, whether he's injured or whether he's not," Cameron told reporters.
"I understand there's a fun side to it. But what does his (Toby's) mother think (seeing the headline)? You've got to be really, really careful."
Forward Toby Greene says he is enjoying getting some midfield minutes in 2019.
"I get a different kind of freedom up the ground, it's a lot more dynamic (than it used to be) and I guess I'm still pretty raw in there, but I've just got to take it as it comes," he said.
"It's definitely not a goal of mine to be back in there full-time, I might just be needed in there for certain games or against certain opponents.
"I love my time up in the forward line and I'd like to think that's where I play my best footy."
Charlie Cameron says he wants to be one of the top small forwards in the AFL, and to emulate his hero Toby Greene.
"I'm still trying to prove to them that I can play at the elite level. I'm trying to be top-five small forward in the game," Cameron said.
"I watch a lot of Toby Greene; I think he's my favourite player. I try to model my game around Toby Greene, he's an electric forward. I want to take my game to the next level."
Toby Greene is set to have ankle surgery and is expected back in training with the Giants after Christmas.
Greene suffered the injury in the Giants' semi-final loss to Collingwood at the MCG, and while the club's medical staff had hoped to avoid an operation, the problem hasn't improved over the off-season.
"It's unfortunate that Toby has suffered this setback but by making this decision now, we don't run the risk of him missing any games," GWS head of athletic performance David Joyce said.
Toby Greene is under scrutiny again for his unconventional marking technique.
In the dying stages of the Giants' win over the Swans, as he stood his ground in a marking contest, Greene thrust out his right boot, parallel to the ground, and made contact with the midriff of Swan Nic Newman. Greene marked on his chest and wasn’t penalised by the umpire.
The incident sparked memories of the decision in 2017 to fine Greene $1,500 for making contact with the face of Luke Dahlhaus with his boot.
Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron admits there is no set timeline for Toby Greene's return, after the injured forward was this week spotted in a moon boot and using crutches due to a foot injury.
"I don't think anyone in our medical team can say with confidence is it going to be two weeks, is it going to be four weeks, is it going to be six weeks," Cameron said.
"We've checked that out on Friday and got the results today. It's a little bit hot in one spot."
Australia will be without Toby Greene in the Virgin Australia International Rules Series, with the Greater Western Sydney forward breaking a toe in unusual circumstances.
The Giants reported that Greene "accidentally hit his left foot against a wall" while holidaying in New York.
Toby Greene says he won't be changing the way he attacks the footy, despite the controversial incident that left Western Bulldog Luke Dahlhaus with a bloodied face in round 21.
"I can't guarantee that in my next marking contest I won't protect myself with my knee, that's just how I play footy, and as far as I'm aware you're allowed to do it," he said.
"If your eyes are on the footy, you're entitled to do what you can to protect yourself.
"It's unfortunate that Luke (Dahlhaus) got hit in the head but obviously I didn't mean to kick him in the head. I was just guarding the space.
"Maybe the media speculation was a lot greater because of my history, but I can't control my reputation."
GWS coach Leon Cameron says West Coast's intention to target Toby Greene this week will backfire on them.
"He's one of those players that thrives on that attention and thrives on the big stage," Cameron said.
"There's no doubt that if the Eagles do try to intimidate him verbally or physically, Toby will absorb that really, really well, and play to the best of his ability like we've seen in the past."
Toby Greene escapes suspension for planting his boot into Luke Dahlhaus's face, with the Match Review Panel fining him for misconduct.
Greene, who was reported for rough conduct in Friday night's clash against the Western Bulldogs, was handed a fixed financial sanction of $2500, which can be reduced to $1500 with an early guilty plea.
The AFL will examine match and security vision after a Western Bulldogs fan allegedly poured beer over controversial Greater Western Sydney star Toby Greene.
The incident took place in the Giants' player race at Etihad Stadium as they left the field after their 48-point win over the reigning premiers on Friday night.
Greene had once again incurred the wrath of Bulldogs fans in the third quarter when he was reported for rough conduct after his right boot caught Luke Dahlhaus in the mouth, forcing the Dogs midfielder off the field under the blood rule.
"Buying a ticket to the footy does not grant fans the right to show such disrespect to the players," AFLPA general manager of player relations Brett Murphy said.
"The close proximity of players to fans is one of the great aspects of our game, and incidents like this threaten to ruin it for everyone."
On his return from a two-game suspension, Toby Greene once again finds himself in hot water after being reported when his foot made forceful contact with Bulldog Luke Dahlhaus in the third quarter during a marking contest.
The tough Dogs midfielder left the field with a bloodied face and required staples to stem the flow.
Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron implored the Match Review Panel to view Greene's match-day report in isolation, and not be coloured by the forward's undisciplined reputation.
"Clearly he has got his eyes on the ball so what he's done is protected himself. Obviously the powers to be will look at it but it is what it is, but they need to judge Toby Greene on his merits," Cameron said.
Heath Shaw defends the on-field aggression of teammates Shane Mumford and Toby Greene despite both player copping suspensions in recent weeks.
"Not everyone goes out there and has to belt people and rough people up, or get aggressive at the ball and the man to play well, but some people do and that’s how they become really, really good players," Shaw said.
"We're not going to take that away from two of our most important players and curb what has made them who they are."
Toby Greene accepts a two-match ban for striking Alex Rance after being charged by the MRP for the fourth time in 2017.
Greene's bad record meant he could not accept a one-match penalty for the intentional strike, with a two-match suspension for striking Caleb Daniel in round six coming back to haunt him.
Greater Western Sydney co-captain Phil Davis has encouraged Toby Greene to not change his ways despite the forward copping a two-game ban for striking yet again.
"One thing about Toby, he plays life and death footy, he plays like a man possessed and they're the kind of players we want – I don't want him to play within his shell," Davis said.
GWS coach Leon Cameron says he will have 'a chat' with Toby Greene after the 23-year old was reported for striking Tiger Alex Rance in the Giants' 19-point loss.
"We have to have a chat about it because it's just flattening and clearly it can break momentum," Cameron said.
"This young kid is worth spending time with because I know his heart's in the right spot and that is he wants to play footy for this footy club from minute one to minute 120, but there are some areas in his game that he needs to tidy up."
Tim Taranto says GWS teammates Toby Greene, Devon Smith and Steve Johnson have contributed significantly to his development.
"When I first walked in the door I noticed how good Toby was, he'd tear it apart at training," he said.
"I just think he's an absolute stud, and the best one-on-one player in the competition with his marking and the way he uses his body.
"Devon has been really helpful to me. We live close to each other, so he takes me to games and gives me a lot of advice.
"Then there's Stevie, who is still teaching me how to kick, his leadership and knowledge is just invaluable, and he's always in the right spot at the right time.
"There's a lot of talent here and you'd be silly not to try and learn as much as possible from them, and put it into your own game."
Toby Greene is reported for the second straight week but still has the backing of GWS coach Leon Cameron.
Greene's three-goal effort was again overshadowed when he was booked for striking Caleb Daniel in the third term.
"Look, if he's in strife, he's in strife. If he gets a week then that’s the way it goes, and if he gets off, he gets off," Cameron said of Greene.
"What I will say is I love the way he goes about his footy, we speak about it regularly, and he will get better and better at (handling) these moments."
Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron denies his club has a discipline problem, but has told Toby Greene and Heath Shaw to control their aggression.
Cameron revealed he had spoken to both men about their onfield behavior over the past two weeks, in particular Greene, who has come close to attracting the attention of the MRP on more than one occasion.
"He's such a competitor (but) he's got to make sure that in the moment he's got to be able to control that aggression," Cameron said of Greene.
"We don't want to lose any players to suspension, let alone guys with the quality of Toby Greene. He's better off playing than sitting on the sidelines, and he knows he has to constantly work on that.
"The one thing that I will say is that I love the way he goes about it, but he does know that when that tipping point comes, he's got to be able to take a deep breath and move onto the next contest."
Cameron said Shaw also knew that his competitiveness could take him over the edge after footage showed the veteran defender sledging Sydney's Tom Papley.
"I was rapt with the way he handled the situation last Saturday night [following the Papley seldge]," Cameron said.
"Heath is a knockabout (guy) but he was genuinely remorseful and upset, and was right on the front foot about it, and we move on."
Toby Greene will play in his 100th game this week against Gold Coast at Spotless Stadium.
"It's a pretty cool achievement," he said.
"It's probably something I'll look back on and be more proud of than I am right now, but to be part of a club from when it started makes it a bit more significant.
"It's up to the guys who came here at the start to set the foundations and set up what the club stands for, so I guess I feel part of that being someone who has played a few games here."
Toby Greene says he is happy to remain as a forward in 2017.
"I think I'll stay as a forward next year, there's too much to do in the midfield," he joked.
"I haven't sat down with Leon (Cameron) yet to discuss it in detail, but I'm keen to play a similar role to last season, playing as a forward with the occasional run in the middle."
Toby Greene caps off a breakout season in 2016 by winning the Kevin Sheedy Medal as Greater Western Sydney's player of the year.
Greene averaged 21.3 possessions per game playing as a high half-forward, kicked 44 goals, was ranked equal second in the League for goal assists, and third for inside 50s during the regular season.
The 23-year-old finished a thrilling count just three votes ahead of wingman Tom Scully, with fellow onballer Stephen Coniglio third.
"I honestly can't believe I've won this medal," Greene said.
"It's such a privilege to be named amongst the best players that this club has got is such an honour."
Toby Greene says he has grown as a person and a player since being handed a five-week suspension by the club last season.
"I think it definitely it was something I learned from as a person," Greene told Crocmedia.
"I guess I dropped the penny a little bit I reckon, and it's been able to help me so far since then."
Greene said he immediately wanted to repay the club's faith in him when it offered him a contract extension last year.
"I've always had faith in the club and the club has showed faith in me, so it was great to get a contract extension and I guess I want to be a part of where we're going so I was really stoked to get that," Greene said.
"I guess it was alcohol-related the way I got in trouble, and I guess that can be sort of an issue for all young players.
"Especially when you haven't had a drink in a while and then when you get a chance to, you might go a bit silly. But I guess that's something I had to work on."
Toby Greene has had five charges dropped by police over an allegedly violent night out in May this year.
Greene, who appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday, was originally charged with 10 offences from the May 12 night out at Zagames hotel in Caulfield.
But police dropped five of the charges - intentionally causing injury, assault with a weapon, assault by kicking and threat to inflict serious injury and affray.
The 21-year-old still faces one count of recklessly causing serious injury to Terence Payne, one count of assault in company with another, one count of assault, one count of public drunkenness and one count of intentionally damaging a car.
Greene's case was adjourned until December 9 for a contest mention.
GWS feels it got the punishment handed out to Toby Greene just right as the young midfielder prepares to tackle his 50th game in career-best form.
"He's responded like any good young kid that has good values. He just put his head down, his bum up and he's done the work," GWS coach Leon Cameron said.
"He wants to win the respect of his players, his coaches, his family, and I think he's done a fantastic job.
"I actually thought Toby handled it better than a lot of people when it happened.
"He just copped it on the chin, he understood he did the wrong thing and he's proving to everyone what a good person and good footballer he is at the moment."
Toby Greene steps straight back into the senior side after just one week in the reserves following his club-imposed five-game suspension.
"In terms of him playing one game in the reserves or whether he played two or three, he served his five weeks," GWS coach Leon Cameron said.
"Whether he was going to play this week or next week or the week after, a spot has opened up for Toby to play and he's grabbed it because he's played some good football (and) his fitness levels are no concern.
"Do you play him two or three weeks in the reserves to earn respect back? No, a spot came up and he was selected."
Toby Greene returns to footy with a vengeance, amassing 40 disposals and a goal to lead the UWS Giants to a 43-point win over the Sydney Swans in the state league.
Toby Greene will make his return in the club's NEAFL side this week after completing his five-match, club-imposed suspension for breaking club protocols.
Greene will line up for the UWS Giants against the Sydney Swans reserves at the SCG on Saturday in his first game since May 11, when the Eagles thrashed the Giants at Patersons Stadium.
"Toby has trained incredibly hard over recent weeks and done everything we have asked of him," GWS coach Leon Cameron said.
"He has impressed everyone with his attitude and we look forward to seeing him play and put himself in contention for a senior recall in the coming weeks."
GWS CEO David Matthews hopes the five-game suspension handed to midfielder Toby Greene by the club will be a "turning point" in the youngster's career.
"Toby has been very remorseful. He's a good young man, he's five minutes into a career that we hope goes for 10 years," Matthews told radio station 3AW.
"We thought our leadership group, and the management and board needed to make a strong stand. We want to see this being a real turning point for him."
Toby Greene's manager Paul Connors has begun negotiating with Greater Western Sydney to reduce the midfielder's five-week club-imposed suspension.
"The five weeks surrounds just the fact that he was drinking while he had a minor ankle injury and the fact that he did call the club, but he didn't just adequately inform the club," Connors said.
"So without getting into the nitty gritty, we respect that they've got a process to go through, we just want to find out … have some more discussions, and that's all we've done, we've opened dialogue we just want to find out a bit more around the whole suspension."
Toby Greene has been suspended for five games and fined $5000 by GWS after a late-night incident in Melbourne while on leave.
The GWS board ratified the decision on the recommendation of coach Leon Cameron and the club's leadership group.
Giants chief executive David Matthews said Greene had breached club protocol by drinking while injured and failing to properly notify the club of his arrest on Monday night.
"We are in no way pre-judging the charges against Toby which will be heard in court later this year," Matthews said.
"However Toby has failed to meet the standards expected of the playing group by drinking alcohol when injured and failing to properly notify the club about a serious incident within an acceptable time frame.
"Toby will receive counselling to ensure he learns from this experience and the standards expected of all players."
Toby Greene will appeal his five-week club suspension imposed by the Giants with the backing of the AFL Players Association.
"The AFL Players' Association believes the penalty imposed upon Toby Greene is unwarranted in the circumstances," acting player relations manager Brett Murphy said.
"It's important to note that the penalty relates to Toby's breach of club protocol.
"Whilst we support the club not dealing with the alleged incidents for which Toby has been charged at this time to protect the integrity of the criminal process, a five-week suspension for a breach of protocols is grossly disproportionate."
Toby Greene is among two men charged with a string of offences following an alleged assault at a licenced premise in Caulfield overnight.
Greene, 20, and a 19-year-old Melbourne man have been hit with a raft of charges stemming from the alleged incident and the Giants have just released a statement confirming Greene was involved.
"The Greater Western Sydney Giants are aware of an incident involving player Toby Greene in Melbourne last night," the statement read.
"Greene has been charged by police in relation to the incident. The club is taking the matter very seriously and has no further comment to make at this stage."
Greene could also be facing further investigation after an incident during Monday night's St Kilda-Carlton contest at Etihad Stadium where he watched the game while having a few drinks with mates.
Near the end of the match, Greene's group allegedly became involved in a scuffle with a group of older patrons at the stadium's Locker Room bar.
It is understood a man in his 50s suffered a black eye and cut to the head as a result of the incident.
It is believed at least two members of Greene's group were ejected from the venue.
Greene's exact role in the incident remains unclear.
With Israel Folau's departure, rising star Toby Greene will don the club's most popular No. 4 jumper.
Meanwhile, Lachie Whitfield, the top selection in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft, has been handed the honour of retired Giant Luke Power's No.6 guernsey.
"We felt that the players who performed well for the club in their first year deserved the opportunity to pick up an earlier number if they wished," coach Kevin Sheedy said.
"We also obviously see Lachie Whitfield as a very talented young player and it's an honour for him to wear the number worn by Luke Power, who was such a great champion for more than 300 AFL games."
Former Bulldog Callan Ward has taken out the Giant's inaugural best player award, ahead of young star Toby Greene.
"Callan has consistently been one of our best players all year," GWS coach Kevin Sheedy said.
"He is a tough, hard midfielder who has shown strong leadership on and off the field to this young team. He plays with tremendous spirit and has a very big future ahead of him."
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
Corey McKernan knows how Toby Greene feels about being unable to win the NAB AFL Rising Star award due to a suspension for rough conduct.
"A Rising Star award is always going to look good on the CV but being the player that Toby is I think he's going to go on to bigger and better things and this isn't even going to be on the radar. If he keeps this form up he could win MVPs, the whole box and dice," McKernan said.
"It's only the last few weeks where everyone's commented on what a good year he's had. He's shown a maturity beyond his years and he is really going to be a special player for years to come."
Thursday, 30 August 2012
Jeremy Cameron, Toby Greene, Steve Coniglio and Adam Treloar are among eight re-signings for Greater Western Sydney.
"It's a young club, plenty of run, and I just love the boys around the club and we're building something really big for the future," Cameron said.
"I'm really confident going forward that if we can all stay together, we'll be a very successful club," Coniglio added.
Friday, 24 August 2012
Toby Greene is averaging more disposals, at 27.5 per game, than any 18-year-old in the modern era.
Greene, however, will not be eligible for the NAB AFL Rising Star trophy after a minor rough conduct offence in round 8.
Tuesday, 3 July 2012
Toby Greene is the round 14 NAB Rising Star nominee after a 31-disposal effort against the Swans.
"Toby has had an outstanding debut year," GWS coach Kevin Sheedy said.
"He has shown a great ability to not only win the ball but for an 18-year-old he is extremely tough and mature beyond his years."
Monday, 7 May 2012
Young Greater Western Sydney midfielder Toby Greene impresses with 28 disposals against Carlton, taking his tally to 133 disposals in just 5 games.
"That was our best game for the first two and a half quarters and then last quarter we just dropped off and the score blew out," Greene said about his side's effort against the Blues.
"I don't think the score was a reflection on the game. We were really happy with how it was going at half-time, but we didn't have as much run as them."
Saturday, 24 March 2012
Toby Greene makes his AFL debut for GWS at Stadium Australia with 27 disposals (12 kicks and 15 handballs), 3 marks and 5 tackles in a 63-point loss to Sydney.