GWS star Tom Green, who was one of the players fined over the Giants’ controversial ‘Wacky Wednesday’ costume party scandal, has described the post-season function as a ‘line in the sand moment’.
The incident, which rocked the AFL in October, saw 13 Giants players, including captain Toby Greene, banned for their involvement in the end-of-season event.
The theme of the show was said to be “controversial couples” and included several off-putting outfits and inappropriate skits.
After an investigation, the AFL found that the incident had violated its rules on “improper conduct” and handed Josh Fahey a four-game suspension, the harshest of sanctions. Meanwhile, Jake Riccardi, Toby McMullin, Harvey Thomas, Joe Fonti and Cooper Hamilton received two-game suspensions.
No illegal conduct was found to have occurred and there is no allegation of illegal conduct.
Green, who rejoined the team on Monday for its preseason campaign, condemned the events that occurred at the postseason function.
Tom Green has spoken out about the recent GWS Giants ‘Wacky Wednesday’ party scandal
Thirteen Giants players were disciplined, including Josh Fahey (pictured) for dressing in disgusting costumes and performing inappropriate skits.
“It’s not good enough,” he said.
“There are guys who, looking ahead to next season, will miss games.
‘It was a real error of judgment on all of us and it has been a real learning curve.
“On and off the field, it’s been an offseason where we had to learn a lot and improve a lot.”
Green was fined $5,000 for his role in failing to show leadership, with Toby Greene, Lachie Whitfield, Connor Idun, Sam Taylor and Harry Perryman receiving the same penalty.
The AFL Integrity Unit discovered through its investigations that Fahey had dressed as a former NRL player while Riccardi went to the party as a taxi driver. The couple had performed a skit at the event that involved simulating inappropriate acts on a sex doll.
It is understood that Fahey had disguised himself as Jarryd Hayne, who had been exonerated earlier this year and released after rape charges against him were formally dropped.
The AFL said McMullin and Hamilton had dressed up as the World Trade Center and simulated the 9/11 attacks, while Idun and Whitfield acted out a scene from the movie Django Unchained.
Green was one of the players fined $5,000 for showing a lack of leadership skills during the event.
GWS captain Toby Greene also spoke out on the matter stating that “there were things we could have done better”.
Green, who has played for the Giants for five seasons, said the team has been reflecting on the controversial party during the offseason.
“Just as a leader… both on and off the field, I have to lead by example and be a role model,” Green said.
‘At that time, I didn’t.
“It has been an offseason of reflection and we have to improve a lot.”
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon subsequently harshly criticized the players and expressed his “disappointment” over the matter. GWS and Captain Greene issued statements to “unreservedly apologize” for the incident.
‘We believe this is an isolated incident, but we understand the seriousness of the situation and the sanctions reflect this. “As a club, along with the AFL playing group, we take full responsibility and are putting measures in place to ensure this never happens again,” a GWS spokesperson said.
It came after the Sydney club was eliminated from this year’s finals series by Brisbane, blowing a 44-point lead and losing the match by five points.
Green also dismissed claims that GWS’ problems during the final series were related to their ‘Wacky Wednesday’ feature.
The Giants have returned to pre-season training after suffering an agonizing defeat in last year’s AFL final to Brisbane.
Toby Greene dressed up as breakdancer Rachel ‘Raygun’ Gunn (pictured) but was fined $5,000 by the AFL after failing to show proper leadership at the ‘Wacky Wednesday’ party.
“I don’t think what happened that Wednesday really has any correlation to what happened on the field,” Green said.
‘If anything, it’s probably more important that we get it right because those things are just not acceptable.
“On both counts, that’s something that’s a defining moment in terms of, ‘Okay, that’s not good enough on and off the field.’
‘The season ended very badly from our point of view.
“There is a lot of work to do so we can take the next step and get to where we think we are good enough to go.”
“In recent years, we have fallen short and it shows that we are not good enough.”
Toby Greene also reflected on the incident, stating that he “wished we were better” after the controversy.
“There are things we could have done better, myself and as a club,” Greene told Channel 7 on Friday.
“We learned them along the way and I guess all we can do is make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
While Greene wouldn’t rule out participating in future end-of-season celebrations, he promised to “go with the flow,” before adding that it was unlikely the Giants would “do much next year.”