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GWS' Greene says reputation may haunt him

3 minute read

GWS' Toby Greene says his reputation for involvement in controversial incidents rather than being a brilliant footballers frustrates him.

TOBY GREENE poses during the Greater Western Sydney Giants AFL media day in Sydney, Australia.
TOBY GREENE poses during the Greater Western Sydney Giants AFL media day in Sydney, Australia. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

GWS co-captain Toby Greene admits the idea he's known more for controversial moments than his footballing skill frustrates him, although he concedes he's only got himself to blame.

A circumspect Greene, who had been suspended for 14 matches and fined $29,350 across his career to the end of the 2021 season, said he burned watching his teammates play the first five rounds of this campaign while serving a ban for his most infamous moment.

That incident saw him bump an umpire against Sydney in last year's finals, with an initial three-week ban handed down by the tribunal increased to six weeks on appeal.

Regarding his perhaps-negative reputation, Greene hoped the footballing world would move on.

"At the time, it probably frustrates me and certainly what happened in the finals series last year burned for a couple of weeks, no doubt about that," he told Fox Sports.

"But I move on pretty quick, I think the footy world moves on pretty quick as well.

"It's just part of it, and I've got myself in some controversial incidents in high-profile games. I don't try to do it, but it just seems to happen."

Of his umpire bump, Greene admitted there was no excuse for his actions.

"Obviously it got talked about quite heavily ... and rightfully so, it was the wrong thing to do," he said.

"Three weeks was probably a fair whack and then when they said we're going back (to an appeal) there was no point rocking up, I was getting six (weeks).

"I certainly learned my lesson, it burned not playing the first five games of this year."

Meanwhile, Greene insisted the Giants don't need a complete rebuild despite a 5-13 campaign highlighted by the sacking of coach Leon Cameron.

"We don't need a whole reset, I don't think that and I don't think the club thinks that at all either," he said.

"We as players haven't performed up to our level this year, Leon probably copped it unfairly ... but we certainly think we should be better than what we are and we need to deliver on that as a playing group."

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