The AFL has confirmed it will appeal the three-game suspension dealt to Greater Western Sydney superstar Toby Greene for making intentional contact with an umpire.
The news comes after AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said he was “perplexed” and it was “hard to reconcile” the length of the ban handed down at the tribunal hearing, adding that the league wanted a minimum of a six-match suspension.
Greene‘s three-game ban has wiped him from the do-or-die semi-final clash with Geelong at Perth Stadium on Friday night, while he will also miss his side’s preliminary final and grand final fixtures if GWS qualify. If the Giants lose to the Cats in their semi-final, the two-time All-Australian will miss the first two rounds of next season.
The AFL said in a statement that footy operations manager Andrew Dillon had notified the AFL appeal board and the Giants of the league’s decision to challenge the suspension.
However, at the request of GWS, the AFL has agreed to defer the hearing until the end of the finals series.
“The AFL tribunal found that Greene’s contact with the umpire was intentional and that it was also aggressive, disrespectful and demonstrative,” the AFL said in a statement.
“On that basis, Mr Dillon said the AFL had appealed the three-game suspension on the ground that the sanction imposed was manifestly inadequate.
“Mr Dillon reinforced that respect for umpires and the safety of umpires in our game is what our sport is built on and must be protected. As the keeper of the code, the AFL has a responsibility to act in the interests of all in the sport.”
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!