GWS star Toby Greene is set to miss the rest of the AFL finals series after being handed a three-match suspension by the tribunal for intentional umpire contact.
Greene pleaded not guilty to the “intentional” aspect of the charge at his hearing on Tuesday but conceded contact had been made with experienced whistle-blower Matt Stevic.
The incident occurred during three-quarter time of the Giants’ one-point win over Sydney in Saturday’s elimination final.
A jury made up of former players Richard Loveridge, Stephen Jurica and Shane Wakelin found Greene’s actions were “aggressive, demonstrative and disrespectful”, resulting in a guilty verdict.
In a surprise move, Greene’s lawyer Ben Ihle QC invited the jury to impose a “severe financial penalty” amounting to “four or five times” the maximum $5000, rather than suspend the player.
The invitation was declined and Greene’s suspension means GWS will be without one of their most important players for Friday night’s sudden-death semi-final against Geelong at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
The ban could also sideline the dual All-Australian forward for the start of the 2022 season, depending on how far the Giants go in this year’s finals series.
In his evidence during the tribunal hearing, eight-time grand final umpire Stevic said he did not believe the “minor” contact caused by Greene was aggressive or demonstrative, and he did not feel “threatened” at any stage.
But after viewing multiple replays of the incident, Stevic said: “I don’t think it’s a good look for the game … I would say that there’s an element of it being disrespectful.”
AFL rules state that “contact with an umpire that is aggressive, forceful, demonstrative or disrespectful will be deemed intentional”.
AFL lawyer Jeff Gleeson QC argued Greene’s actions could be seen as aggressive, demonstrative or disrespectful, but not forceful, and called for a six-match suspension.
The tribunal heard audio of the Greene-Stevic interaction, during which Greene said “he took a f***ing dive” in reference to an incident that occurred a few minutes earlier during play.
Stevic replied to Greene at the time, saying two umpires had paid a free-kick against him for high contact against a Sydney player.
Greene maintained throughout the hearing the contact with Stevic was not intentional on his part.
“I do apologise for making contact and it’s certainly something that I wasn’t trying to do,” Greene said.
“I agree that it’s not a great look for the game and I do apologise.”
In his closing submission, Gleeson suggested Greene’s contact with Stevic was “insolent and contemptuous”.
Ihle admitted it was a “terrible look” for the game that should have been avoided.
“But that doesn’t mean the contact was intentional,” Ihle said.
Greene left the online hearing with tribunal chairman Ross Howie’s permission before his penalty was handed down because he needed to prepare for a flight from Tasmania to Western Australia with his GWS teammates.
Greene has the option to appeal his suspension, as he did after being given a one-match ban for striking Cats midfielder Patrick Dangerfield in Round 21.
Greene was unsuccessful on that occasion and missed the Giants’ win over Richmond in Round 22.
(C) AAP 2021
