Latest news with #TobyGreene
7NEWS
03-07-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
AFL rules out investigating Toby Greene after GWS superstar admits to wearing illegal studs
The AFL says it will not hit the GWS Giants with a $40,000 fine after Toby Greene admitted he wore illegal footwear during a game. On Channel 7's live broadcast last Friday, the GWS captain said that he wore metal studs — that are banned by the league — during the Round 8 game between the Sydney Swans and the Giants. Greene doubled down on that admission again this week, explaining that he wore the illegal stops for the first half of that game (which the Giants lost by 14 points). 'We played there 10 weeks ago, and it was the same thing ... (as it was on Friday night during the Sydney v Bulldogs clash) but it wasn't a night game,' Greene said on the Ausmerican Aces podcast this week. 'I wore metal studs in the first half because I trained there (on the) Captain's Run, and I was like, 'This (turf) is shocking ...'. 'So I wore metal studs in the first half. I found them a bit heavy. They're pretty hard those metal studs, and they do hurt if you got someone. 'But it was actually embarrassing what was going on there (at the SCG) on the Friday night.' The illegal stops have become a big issue in the AFL this year and Channel 7's The Agenda Setters recently revealed that the league had sent out a reminder memo to clubs that harsh sanctions were in place if a player broke the rules. Clubs are liable to a $40,000 sanction should a player be caught in metal stops. On Thursday (today), AFL chief Andrew Dillon reiterated that metal studs are banned. However, he said Greene wore the illegal stops before the warning had gone out. 'I think 21 out of the 23 Swans players had longer stops on — not the metal studs — last week,' Dillon said. 'So, I think different conditions sometimes can be cause for different footwear, and I think that's been part of the game for 128 years that the AFL/VFL's been going.' The issue escalated on Friday night when players were slipping and sliding all over the place on the SCG turf. And Channel 7 commentator and former superstar Dale Thomas said the league was being a little hypocritical about its stop stance, noting that a player slipping over on shifting turf could do more damage than a player getting injured by a stud. The AFL had been unaware that Greene made the comments about the metal stops on Channel 7. 'Four weeks ago, as we revealed last week, the AFL sent out a memo reiterating that if you wear metal studs, you face a fine of up to $40,000 and that is not (the player) personally, that's your footy club,' journalist Caroline Wilson said on The Agenda Setters on Tuesday. 'Some footy bosses (such as North Melbourne's) Todd Viney is one who has said to his players that if you wear metal studs, you pay the fine. 'We're not paying it,' (he told the players). 'Now, it's been alleged, I think by (South Australian radio host) Chris Dittmar, that one particular club has been a key offender. We've been trying to unearth who that is. We can't quite confirm that, but the point is, the memo went out after Toby Greene wore the medal studs. 'The AFL is saying they're going to look at the comments and make a decision, but maybe (Greene) wasn't aware of it. (However), the memo originally went out, I think, in 2019 or 2020 ...' The AFL's memo to the clubs said: 'This is a timely reminder regarding the type of football boots which may be worn in AFL matches, specifically the prohibition of metal stops, which pose a serious risk of injury to players. 'To prioritise player safety, the AFL strictly enforces regulations that prohibit the use of metal stops or studs on football boots. 'As such, it is the responsibility of all AFL clubs and players to ensure that boots worn during matches fully comply with these rules. 'Under AFL regulations 4.8, clubs may be sanctioned up to $40,000 breach.'
News.com.au
03-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir called SCG surface unsafe last week but is happy to play Swans there on Sunday
Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir says a training session on the SCG before his team takes on the Swans on Sunday will be crucial for players to work out what boots to wear on the dodgy surface. But Longmuir stayed away from his previous claim that it was 'unsafe', instead declaring his players were used to playing on slippery surfaces after enduring issues with their home ground at Optus Stadium in 2025. The SCG surface has been in the spotlight since last Friday night when players form both the Swans and Western Bulldogs slipped badly, particularly at one end. GWS star Toby Greene said it was 'actually embarrassing' how bad it was having been forced to wear metal studs in round 8. It moved the AFL to send its own turf expert to inspect the surface and engage in conversations with the Dockers, and on Thursday, Longmuir said he was happy to play there. 'Like I've said all along, if the AFL tick it off, we'll play anywhere,' he said. Longmuir said his players had been spoken to about what boots to wear, but a run on the ground on Saturday would be important in informing their decisions. 'Yeah, it will be important, but we've had a fair bit of practise playing on slippery surfaces,' he said. 'Optus (Stadium) last year wasn't great, it was a bit slippery, so if that's all it is, we'll be able to handle it. 'We'll get a good look at our captain's run and our players will be well prepared with their boots and get to work. 'The preparation stuff we speak to the players about and once we get later in the week, we are just talking about our footy. 'I said this post game, both teams will have to play on the surface, so we'll embrace it and just get to work.' Longmuir said he had no issues injecting captain Alex Pearce into the game despite managing a knee issue, having watched as Western Bulldog Bailey Williams nearly did himself damage last weekend. The Fremantle coach also dismissed calls for Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe to retire after he suffered a calf injury that could sideline him for another month or more. Fyfe, 33, has played just four games in 2025 due to a myriad injuries, but Longmuir wouldn't put a line through his stellar career. 'They're just opinions,' Longmuir said. 'We'll deal in facts.'
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Doubt over spearhead but Giants 'not too worried'
GWS aren't overly concerned about the prospect of losing Coleman Medal winner Jesse Hogan to a foot injury for their clash with West Coast. Hogan, who has kicked 40 goals in 12 appearances this season, missed the Giants' main training session on Wednesday. It leaves the 30-year-old spearhead in serious doubt to take on the Eagles at Optus Stadium on Friday night. Kieren Briggs (ankle) and Stephen Coniglio (glute) are also listed as tests, while Lachie Whitfield (concussion), Sam Taylor (toe) and Brent Daniels (adductor) are still sidelined. Hogan kicked nine goals in the round-four win over West Coast, but Giants forward Darcy Jones backed his teammates to get the job done without their spearhead. "It's definitely handy having him in the forward line," Jones said. "It would be definitely annoying if he wasn't there, but we've got the depth in the keys to fill his spot. "We're not too worried. We've still got good players to fill his shoes, so we're all good." Toby Greene, Aaron Cadman, Callum Brown and Jake Riccardi are all averaging more than one goal per game this season in a dangerous attacking mix. Jake Stringer returned before the bye and young key forward Max Gruzewski could be called up if Hogan is ruled out. "It's good that we don't have to just rely on individual players," Jones said. "It's a whole system forward line and we've all got our own roles. "If someone comes down we've got someone straight away to fill the spot, so it's good to have." West Australian product Jones, drafted from Swan Districts, grew up an Eagles fan and revealed he still has a framed and signed picture of West Coast icon Nic Naitanui on the wall at his childhood home. The 21-year-old will play an AFL match in Perth for the first time in front of about 30 family members and friends, some of whom haven't made the switch to supporting the Giants. "It's going to mean everything, I'm so excited," Jones said. "I've got grandparents, cousins and family that haven't seen me play (AFL) before so I just can't wait for them to come down and watch." Ninth-placed GWS (9-6) breathed life into their finals push with important wins over Brisbane and Gold Coast before their bye and will start strong favourites against West Coast. "It's very important. We won't be taking them lightly or anything like that," Jones said. "They're always very competitive over west, so we'll certainly be playing to the best of our abilities to win."
News.com.au
02-07-2025
- Climate
- News.com.au
Swans ruckman Brodie Grundy says SCG may be slippery but not unsafe to play
Sydney ruckman Brodie Grundy has defended the state of the SCG surface, rejecting a claim from Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir that it's 'unsafe' ahead of Sunday's clash at the venue. The AFL has sent its own turf expert to Sydney, which was hit with a deluge of rain on Wednesday, to look at the surface that has failed to recover from a concert held at the ground in April. After his players were caught slipping badly last Friday, Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said the surface would get worse before it got better because of the weather hitting NSW and would be 'extremely slippery' on Sunday. Longmuir, who watched last Friday's clash from the stands, didn't like what he saw and the Dockers have been in conversation with the AFL this week before heading to Sydney for a crucial clash with the Swans. It was even reported that Venues NSW, which looks after the SCG, was possibly going to ask the Swans to not wear football boots for training this week to help it recover. GWS captain Toby Greene also revealed that he wore metal studs during the round-8 derby at the venue because of the 'shocking' conditions, risking a $40,000 fine for players caught wearing prohibited studs. The Swans moved this week's SCG training session to nearby Tramway Oval and while Grundy conceded the surface wasn't at its best last weekend, he said it wasn't unsafe. 'We play on it, well not every week, but train on it most weeks and have been for the last six to eight weeks,' he said on Wednesday. 'It's our home, so we're pretty used to it. 'Was it ideal? No, but I'm looking forward to playing there this week.' Grundy said 'dewy' conditions contributed to the slipping last Friday. 'Looking back, there's little moments where people are slipping over and whatnot,' the star said. 'But that's going to happen when it's dewy and Friday night footy. 'I thought the contest, generally, was a real spectacle that I thought fans got to enjoy. 'And as a player, I certainly enjoy playing in that (sort of) game.'
Daily Mail
29-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Footy star reveals his teammate's disgusting habit with his underpants and a common piece of kitchen equipment
Greater Western Sydney Giants skipper Toby Greene has revealed the downright stomach-turning habit that his teammate Tom Green has when he's staying in a hotel room. Green, who is often away from home travelling with his team, has devised an unconventional laundry hack that his captain has described as 'disgraceful'. 'This is not right in my books,' smiled Green while appearing on the TFG Tuesdays podcast. 'Tom Green reckons that sometimes when he's traveling, especially overseas, if he can't get to a laundromat or something, he will chuck his undies in a kettle and boil the kettle to clean his underwear in the hotel room. 'Disgraceful. And he reckons that it's a thing. 'I drink cups of tea every night at the hotels. I was disgusted.' Green says he couldn't believe what he was hearing and he was hoping that listeners to the show could provide their thoughts on the matter. Footy fans on social media were quick to agree with Greene's take about his teammate's laundry hack, with some vowing to never drink tea in a hotel room again. Several others piped up to say that they had heard of the practice. Meanwhile, GWS veteran Stephen Coniglio has revealed a nerve issue has been the cause of his indefinite stint on the sidelines. A glute issue originally thought to put Coniglio out for just one week has kept the star onballer missing from action since round three. It is a frustrating setback for the 31-year-old, who had been rediscovering his form after facial surgery and a shoulder reconstruction in the off-season. 'It was our West Coast game (in round four) and I just woke up like any other morning, just preparing to come to captain's run, and I just couldn't walk,' Coniglio said on Monday. 'I felt this pain shooting down my leg ... I just pulled out of that game, disappointing, just thinking a couple of days it'll settle. 'As it's gone on, it's moved from my glute down my hamstring. 'It's been a bit of trial and error, but it's a nerve issue that's bothering me. 'I tried a couple of injections that, again, hadn't seemed to work initially. We're trying a few other things at the moment.' Coniglio's return has been pushed back to their round-14 fixture against Brisbane, but he admits the timeline isn't certain. The time away from the game has at least given Coniglio more confidence in his shoulder and face, the inaugural Giant insisting he still has more to give. 'I'm over 30 now, so everyone's pointing to maybe it could be that, but I'm feeling 24, 25 again after having not played a lot for the last year,' he said. 'Last year, dealing with the two operations gave me some really good mental perspective on how lucky I am and how grateful I am to play this game. 'I'm very confident in my own ability and that I'll be back playing my best very soon. I love the game so much.'
