WHY NO RUB OF THE GREENE?
TOBY Greene is one part of a “please explain” GWS is seeking from the AFL over why the club is systematically coming out on the bad side of umpires.
AFL greats are adamant Greene is being prejudged by officials because of his bad boy reputation, with the superstar forward yet to be paid a free kick in 2020, despite having six blown against him.
And while GWS will ask the AFL for clarification on Greene’s bewildering treatment against Collingwood, for the Giants the real issue is the overall hammering they feel they have copped from umpires for the past five years’ running.
Damning statistics from Champion Data show that the Giants have either been ranked last or second last in the AFL for free-kick differential dating back to 2016.
GWS is not kicking and screaming, particularly not after a win, but privately the Giants do not believe they can be that unlucky over such a sustained period of time.
News Corp understands GWS sought clarification from the AFL over umpiring decisions following the loss to North Melbourne a fortnight ago, and will again be sending specific clips to officials this week in a bid to better understand why it is being penalised for incidents where opponents are not.
GWS is happy to be told that players could be better with technique in certain instances, but is hoping to get some concessions back from the AFL that umpires could also improve.
GWS has the worst freekick record so far this year and was dead last in 2019 as well, with an extraordinary differential of -102. From 2016-18, the club was ranked 17th out of the 18 clubs.
Against Collingwood last week Greene was tackled high and failed to win a free kick, only for the Giants to be penalised for an almost identical incident later in the match.
Fox Footy expert Leigh Montagna is adamant Greene is being inadvertently victimised.
“I’m glad people made comment on that over the weekend because I was watching the footy on Friday night and thought the exact same thing as everyone else,” Montagna said.
“I don’t think it’s deliberate, but umpires are human and maybe subconsciously there’s something in it. It just does seem like he gets a harsh run from the umpires.”
Greene might be 0-6 for free kicks this season, but in 2019 he had 24 for and 29 against and from 2012-18 he had 173 for and 177 against.
Western Bulldogs great and fellow Fox Footy commentator Brad Johnson defended the umpires.
“I’m not sure whether umpires go, ‘ Toby Greene’s going for that one, I’m not going to pay a free kick’,” Johnson said. “That’s not the way it works or the way the umpires operate.
“I’d say he’s judged contest to contest that he’s involved in. It’s not about who he is as an individual. He’s just been a bit unlucky.”
Meanwhile, GWS had some shock injury news yesterday with Phil Davis considered a chance to take on Hawthorn this week despite suffering a hamstring issue against Collingwood.
But Zac Williams, who the Giants originally thought might be able to back-up, is now expected to miss up to four weeks, also with a hamstring problem.
It is understood Davis’s issue is more with back spasms than the hamstring itself.