GWS Giants skipper Toby Greene is facing a $20,000 fine and eight players are expected to be hit with AFL suspensions following an end-of-season party.
The Age reports eight players will be handed bans of at least two games each while the league’s players association is expected to put out a statement on Thursday about the saga.
Reports state a handful of players dressed up in inappropriate costumes and performed skits that later drew a complaint to the club and the AFL.
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One player reportedly dressed as former NRL player Jarryd Hayne and carried a blow-up sex doll, while others allegedly dressed as New York’s former twin towers.
The Age has also reported a reference to American rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was made at the party. Combs is currently under investigation following his arrest over sex-trafficking allegations. He has plead not guilty.
Giants vice captains Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly were reportedly two players who did not attend the function.
9News Melbourne’s chief footy reporter Tom Morris reports the players on Wednesday made submissions to administrators in a bid to have the “hefty” sanctions reduced.
On Tuesday night, Morris said the AFL was “investigating claims of inappropriate behaviour relating to costumes and skits at the players-only post-season event”. Greene was reportedly dressed as Australia’s Olympic breaker Raygun at the party.
On Wednesday, Morris reported the players had learned their fate.
“GWS players are today making submissions in relation to proposed AFL penalties,” Morris wrote on X.
“Some players have been hit with hefty fines, even if they weren’t involved directly with the skit.
“Captain Toby Greene is one of these, who has been sanctioned $20k, essentially for not showing adequate leadership in the situation.”
Morris said as many as six other players, including Josh Fahey, have been hit with match penalties.
https://twitter.com/tommorris32/status/1846368360889831796
He said there was “widespread surprise” among players about the severity of the penalties, but clarified he did not believe Greene’s attending the event dressed as Raygun was the reason for his fine.
”They are seeking to have them reduced via their submissions,” he said.
Speaking on SEN on Wednesday morning, Morris said the Giants players believe the source of the complaint came from the bartender who was working in the private room they had hired.
He also said the Giants and the AFL integrity unit had been made aware of the incident several weeks ago and the club released another statement on Wednesday night.
“The Giants confirmed yesterday the club is aware of allegations of inappropriate behaviour at the players’ end-of-season event last month,” it said.
“The club is taking the matter very seriously and acted swiftly upon the receipt of the concerns. All parties have co-operated fully with the AFL to ensure the allegations are fully investigated.
“Some of the allegations are distressing and entirely contrary to the club’s values and policies. There is also a level of misinformation and rumour being circulated which is entirely inappropriate, particularly while the investigation is ongoing.
“The club will comment further once the outcomes of the investigation are finalised.”
The Giants’ season finished in week two of the finals when they were defeated by five points by eventual premiers Brisbane.