No aggro Greene light
KEVIN Sheedy sees some of himself in Toby Greene’s playing style – except when the GWS star has a brain snap.
Greene’s first AFL coach has called on the Giants forward to be smarter with his on-field aggression and stop letting his teammates down.
The 23-year-old is serving a two-match ban after striking Richmond defender Alex Rance last Sunday at the MCG.
It is his second two-match striking ban and continues Greene’s woeful record of AFL suspensions and fines.
Sheedy coached Greene in the Giants’ first two seasons in 2012 and 2013.
The coaching legend said he had always liked how Greene approached his footy and saw some of himself in the forward.
The famed back-pocket plumber in his playing days at Richmond expressed mock surprise that Greene, who has a private school education, would get himself into so much trouble on the field.
“I was an educated aggressor – he’s not,” Sheedy said.
“I only went to tech school, I didn’t go to Wesley.
“I can’t believe kids at Wesley would do that sort of stuff.”
Sheedy, who coached Essendon to four premierships, is wellknown for liking players who play with aggression.
“I love him – just curb it a bit,” he said. “There are more cameras these days than when I played.
“Be aware of it – not that you needed an extra camera when he waltzes in, whacks a guy and gets two weeks. You’re dudding your teammates when you do it.”
Meanwhile, Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade says Gary Ablett and co-captain Steve May will be given every chance to prove they are fit and firing for tomorrow night’s clash with Richmond at Metricon Stadium. The prolific ball-winner and defensive bookend both missed the loss to the Bulldogs in Cairns last week and were named in the Suns’ 22 last night.
But they are not out of the woods. They will be reassessed today and a decision on their availability could be left until game day.
Ablett has played in only two of the Gold Coast’s past five outings because of hamstring and calf injuries while May injured his hamstring in the Round 17 loss to Collingwood two weeks ago.
The Suns will need as many hands on deck as they can get to be any chance of beating the Tigers, who staked their claim for a topfour berth with a victory over GWS last weekend.
May’s inclusion is especially vital given his absence would expose an undersized and inexperienced defensive unit.