Cameron backs AFL umpires to judge every contest on its merits No red alert on Greene
GWS coach Leon Cameron doesn’t believe AFL umpires will put the boot in to Toby Greene during tonight’s knockout final against Collingwood.
Greene’s unique studs- up marking technique, in which he protects his space with his feet, has been in the headlines this week. The league has made it clear to the Giants that Greene should have been penalised in last week’s elimination final, when he kicked Nic Newman in the midriff.
Greene’s actions in other marking contests at the SCG were ticked off, with Cameron admitting there is “a lot of grey about the interpretations”. RICHMOND have dispelled fears Dustin Martin is under an injury cloud after the superstar midfielder’s brief appearance at a training session at Punt Road.
Cameras from the AFL’s website captured Martin doing a run- through before disappearing into the change rooms while his teammates continued a two- hour session that was closed to the media and public yesterday morning.
Tigers forward Daniel Rioli added to the intrigue when he reported Martin had suffered a corkie during the qualifying final win over Hawthorn as he went for scans on a jarred finger. But Richmond football chief Neil Balme allayed fears either were in doubt for next week’s preliminary final.
“There’s nothing wrong with them,” Balme said.
“Dusty had a knock last week but it’s all right now. I don’t reckon anyone who played in that game didn’t get a knock of some description.
“We planned the training session and he did exactly what we expected him to.
“We have no doubt that he’ll be playing next week ….”
Kane Lambert was also seen leaving the track early but was given the all- clear by Balme.
The session was the last hitout for Damien Hardwick’s men before a short rest ahead of their clash against either Collingwood or GWS at the MCG on Friday night.
All eyes at the MCG will be on Greene, whose importance is underlined by the fact he is yet to play in a losing side this year, but the umpires will also be under the pump.
Cameron says he’d be disappointed if umpires were whistle happy in their assessment of Greene, predicting they would judge every contest on its merits.
“I know there’s a lot of pressure on umpires and there’s going to be a big crowd,” Cameron said. “But I don’t think they’re going into the game saying ‘ we must look at a Toby Greene incident’. That’s not going to happen and I’d be disappointed if it did.”
Magpies counterpart Nathan Buckley offered the straightest of bats, noting “it’s up to the umpires to work out if it’s legal or not”.
Cameron and Greene discussed the issue earlier this week. The latter agreed he must tweak his approach and could not afford to give away needless free kicks.
“He needs to make sure that when he goes into that contest it’s fair and reasonable,” Cameron said. “But a lot of those incidents last week were fair and reasonable. We’ll work on it ( more) over the pre- season but right now he’s not going to be able to flick a switch and go ‘ I can change just like that’.
“He’s a really smart player … he loves challenges.”
Cameron rolled the dice and won big last week, recalling injury- prone veteran Brett Deledio and three other fitagain players. This week he has backed former Western Bulldogs captain Ryan Griffen to fill the immense void created by vice- captain Josh Kelly’s injury- enforced omission.
Griffen, like Deledio, has battled a series of serious setbacks since joining GWS in 2014.
“We have the utmost faith in him,” Cameron said.
“He’s a big- game player. He plays really well in finals, he’s not going to be overawed by the occasion.
“He wins contested ball and that’s what finals footy is all about.”
Griffen and Deledio, generally deployed as forwards this season, are both likely to spend more time in the middle because of Kelly’s absence.