Giants footy boss cops hefty whack for making contact with Swans star in fiery final

Giants executive general manager of football Jason McCartney has been hit with a $20,0000 for making contact with Swans forward Tom Papley in last Saturday’s qualifying final.

The pair briefly made contact with one another as tempers flared at the first break.

Papley and McCartney exchanged words before heading off to their respective rooms.

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McCartney has been given a $20,000 fine by the AFL — which will be included in the Giants’ soft cap — but he’s free to enter the field of play during game breaks moving forward.

The Giants footy boss apologised for his actions.

“I’d like to apologise for the part I played in an incident during the quarter-time break of Saturday’s game. My intention was to shepherd some of our younger players to our team huddle,” McCartney said.

“However, I understand that I should not have put myself in a position to have any interaction with an opposition player and I unreservedly apologise for my actions.”

There’s no love lost between rivals Sydney and Greater Western Sydney, and in Saturday’s qualifying final it was on before the opening bounce as the bad blood then spilled over at quarter time.

Spot fires broke out before things really heated up at the first break – and it’s no surprise the instigators were Giants skipper Toby Greene and Swan Tom Papley.

There was also a moment post-scuffle involving Papley that could be reviewed by the AFL after the Swan made contact with Giants footy boss Jason McCartney on his way to the team huddle.

Fox Footy’s David Zita described the contact as “not a great look”.

“This little incident here near the end, Tom Papley and Giants footy boss Jason McCartney making contact. Now again, it is brief. It is glancing. Not a great look and I’ll wait to see if there’s any fallout from that,” he said.

“Something worth at least flagging.

“Everyone getting involved, not just the players.

“It’s very much on for young and old at the SCG.”

Papley had been awarded a free kick right on the quarter time siren but was knocked down by Greene, sparking a scuffle.

And from there, players came in from everywhere to get involved.

“I mean, who would have thought Papley and Toby Greene would go at it? (laughs) Two likely candidates aren’t they?” Fox Footy’s Jason Dunstall said.

“There is no love lost between these two crosstown rivals,” Sarah Jones added.

“They were up in each other’s grill before the opening bounce.

“It exploded on the quarter time siren.

“Toby Greene in amongst everything.”

It was clear that frustration was playing a part for Papley and the Swans after they were ambushed by the Giants, who went at more than 200 pressure rating in a red-hot opening term.

“Giants dominated the quarter but they didn’t get the reward on the scoreboard,” Dunstall lamented.

“Should be a minimum of three goals (in front).

“Toby Greene missed two including one sitter.

“They should have more reward on the scoreboard.”

Earlier, it was Papley who went after Stephen Coniglio before the opening bounce to test out the Giant’s troublesome shoulder.

“It’s started already,” Dunstall said as the two went at it.

“Coniglio and Papley.

“Coniglio doesn’t want to know about it. He’s looking after that shoulder.”

“Tommy Papley knows – he’s gone straight for him,” David King added in Fox Footy commentary.

“They want to make this spiteful.

“This is going to be on today.

“This is what we wanted to see… Toby Greene throwing his muscle around.”

At the first change, it was GWS holding a 17-10 lead – restricting the AFL’s highest scoring team in 2024 to just one goal in the qualifying final opening term.