Greene, who saw red, cools off and says sorry
BANNED star Toby Greene faced his teammates midweek to apologise for his umpirecontact suspension that cost the Giants their best player.
Coach Leon Cameron revealed Greene had made an “emotional” apology before Greater Western Sydney’s sixgoal semi-final loss to Geelong on Friday night.
The AFL tribunal gave him a three-match sanction on Tuesday for making intentional contact on umpire Matt Stevic at three-quarter time of the elimination final win over Sydney.
That ban could yet be longer, given the AFL has lodged an appeal, which will be held after the grand final, at the Giants’ request.
But Cameron refused to blame Greene’s absence for GWS’s rollercoaster season ending, saying any suggestion it was his fault was “a bit harsh”.
“We had a number of players out – it’s not just one player who costs a team,” he said.
“In terms of his apology, he was clearly remorseful and it was an emotional 10 or 15 minutes in front of our entire group throughout the week.
“We’re not a club that’s going to shy away from things. We need to work out the rights and wrongs, and he got it wrong last weekend and he puts his hand up.
“But equally, as I said throughout the week, you don’t give up on these players, because they’re like your children … He’s been a wonderful player for us, and I’m really confident he’ll work through some of those challenges.”
The loss to the Cats was almost certainly ruckman Shane Mumford’s last AFL game.
The 35-year-old overcame back and knee issues to play 14 games this season – more than expected – after major injuries to Braydon Preuss and Matt Flynn.