GWS Giants star Toby Greene could find himself in hot water, after footage showed him bumping into an umpire at three-quarter time.
The 27-year-old approached on-field umpire Matt Stevic, clearly frustrated about a call in their 74-73 elimination final victory over the Sydney Swans.
But what ensued could see the Giants star facing a suspension at worst or a fine at best, with many noticing him bumping into Stevic.
Many believe that the incident will see him suspended due to its intentional nature.
Is Toby in trouble for this? pic.twitter.com/Jvq0k1EQMh
— 7AFL (@7AFL) August 28, 2021
See previous tweet: Toby Greene is partial to a brain snap https://t.co/OF5hcgiOU4
— Simon Anderson (@simonjourno) August 28, 2021
Toby Greene isn't playing next week, and his finals campaign should be over. Simple.
— Shane McInnes (@shanemcinnes) August 28, 2021
RULE: "Contact with an Umpire that is aggressive, forceful, demonstrative or disrespectful will be deemed intentional and the Player will be directly referred to the Tribunal."
3 weeks minimum.
Not exactly Toby Greene's finest moment that. #AFLFinals #AFLSwansGiants
— Alex Fair (@AJFair85) August 28, 2021
Remains to be seen if the Giants hang on but if I’m Leon Cameron I’m fuming at Toby Greene. Looking at a suspension and likely to be a big distraction this week #AFLSwansGiants
— Sam Wilkinson (@WilkoSam) August 28, 2021
Under the latest rules in the AFL for player-official contact, players will receive a monetary fine for 'incidental contact' with a referee, but may face a ban if it is deemed intentional.
Greene told Channel 7 after the game that he didn't intentionally touch the official.
“I don’t know what it was," he said.
"It was just in the moment and certainly would never touch him. I was just talking to him about something in the game, but yeah.”
Giants coach Leon Cameron also defended his star player and praised his performance in the narrow win.
“I just had a quick look on the way in guys (and) very hard for me to comment on it," he said.
"Clearly it’s a talking point, but all I know is that it wouldn’t have been intentional.
“I love the way he goes about things, I know he’s a talked about player, but I’d really like to hone in on the positive stuff.
It will be a nervous wait for Greene and his side, after they were able to hang on against the Swans on Saturday afternoon.
