GWS Giants skipper Toby Greene conceded he “needed to be better” as several teammates allegedly performed inappropriate skits at and end of season party.
Green’s manager Paul Connors spoke to SEN radio on Thursday as the AFL is expected to hit his client with a $20,000 fine for failing to show leadership at the function in Sydney.
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.
While Greene – who dressed as Olympic break dancer Raygun – reportedly didn’t get involved in the controversial skits, he is expected to be punished for not putting an end to the saga.
“Toby accepts that he’s the leader of the club and he needed to be better,” Connors told SEN on Thursday.
“But additionally, he had as much interest being on that Mad Monday as you would have done. He’d lost a game that he was up by 44 points.
“He was emotionally drained and not in a state of thinking about anything.
“So yes, Toby accepts that he could have done things better, but again, it’s others to debate whether $20,000 is too much.”
Greene’s two vice captains Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly were reportedly not at the function.
9News Melbourne’s chief footy reporter Tom Morris reported the players on Wednesday made submissions to administrators in a bid to have the “hefty” sanctions reduced.
“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 other players, including youngster Josh Fahey, have been hit with match penalties.
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’ season finished in week two of the finals when they were defeated by five points by eventual premiers Brisbane.