Young Giants player Josh Fahey has been handed a four-week suspension, with five teammates copping shorter bans, as the AFL comes down hard on their controversial post-season dress-ups event.
The league has sanctioned 13 GWS players after the Wacky Wednesday party, which had the theme of ‘Controversial Couples’, saw many Giants dressing up in distasteful outfits and acting out offensive skits.
Fahey has copped the heaviest ban having dressed up as Jarryd Hayne, the former NRL star jailed in 2023 for sexual assault who had his conviction overturned earlier this year, and engaged in a skit with a blow-up doll.
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Jake Riccardi, Toby McMullin, Harvey Thomas, Joe Fonti and the delisted Cooper Hamilton have all been handed two-game suspensions. The AFL explained:
– Riccardi dressed up as a taxi driver and partnered Fahey as Hayne, though did not engage with the sex doll;
– McMullin and Hamilton simulated the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center;
– Thomas “dressed as a particular pro sportsman and Fonti as a girl, acting inappropriately during their skit”;
– Connor Idun (who has Ghanaian heritage) and Lachie Whitfield “enacted a scene from the movie Django Unchained, characterising slavery”.
The Giants’ leaders, including Idun and Whitfield, were sanctioned for not stepping in to stop the behaviour.
Giants captain Toby Greene, along with leadership group members Sam Taylor, Harry Perryman (now at Collingwood), Tom Green, Lachie Keeffe, Idun and Whitfield, all received $5000 fines.
Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly, the Giants’ vice-captains, were not in attendance at the event.
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AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said he felt “disbelief and then disappointment” when he learned of the behaviour, explaining the players engaged in conduct unbecoming with a complaint received a day after the event via the AFL Integrity portal.
“The behaviour and the disrespect the players have demonstrated at this event do not uphold any of the values of the AFL or the Giants and the behaviour is not acceptable in any setting at any time.” AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said.
“There is nothing funny or clever about these actions and we are not as a code and competition prepared to accept these behaviours.
“We are also very disappointed that none of the leaders sanctioned sought to stop the behaviour.
“I do want to pay credit to whoever it was who made the anonymous complaint and thank them for refusing to walk past the behaviours.
“These actions do not represent who we are as a code or who the Giants are as a club that has worked hard to build respect across the western Sydney community.
“We have spent a lot of time, resource and energy working with staff, players and clubs to build environments of respect – respect for women, respect for people of different cultures, respect for the wider community – but clearly, we still have work to do. And we are committed to doing that work.
“For the most part our clubs and our AFL players do the right thing and can come together to celebrate or commiserate without the type of behaviour demonstrated here.
“What transpired at the function is not acceptable – not to the other men, women or anyone who is part of the club. Not for all the people in our industry and not for the wider public.
“I want to apologise to the community and to everyone who shares our disappointment, my disappointment at this behaviour and to reinforce that respect is not an option, it is a non-negotiable and we will continue to work until everyone in our game understands that.”
In response to criticism of the suspensions coming from a private event, Dillon said “the behaviour is not acceptable at any place, at any time.”
The club will also provide further education for the entire playing group, in addition to the already mandatory education sessions in relation to violence against women, and racial and religious vilification.
GWS CEO David Matthews said in a statement: “There is absolutely no excuse for the behaviour that took place and we’re very distressed by some of the incidents that occurred.
“As a club built on the values of inclusiveness and respect for all, it was a clear breach of the club’s policies and values as well as a significant departure from the standards of behaviour that we expect of our players.
“We have taken these matters seriously from the outset with a full investigation by the club, alongside the AFL.
“On behalf of the club, I apologise to our members, partners and all stakeholders.
“The players involved have apologised unreservedly for their behaviour and take responsibility for contravening the standards we expect in relation to respect, equality, inclusion and safety.
“We believe this is an isolated incident, but we understand the severity of the situation and the sanctions reflect that. As a club, alongside the AFL playing group, we take full responsibility and are implementing measures to ensure this never happens again.”
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Greene’s manager Paul Connors argued his client did not deserve a larger fine – with initial reports suggesting a $20,000 whack was on the cards – after he did not engage in the actual behaviour, but did not step in to stop it either.
“Toby accepts that he’s the leader of the club and he needed to be better,” Connors told SEN on Thursday morning.
“But additionally, he had as much interest being on that Mad Monday as you would have done. He’d lost a game that he was up by 44 points.
“He was emotionally drained and not in a state of thinking about anything.
“So yes, Toby accepts that he could have done things better, but again, it’s others to debate whether $20,000 is too much.”
Greene said on Thursday evening: “Firstly, I would like to apologise for the events that occurred. As a leader of the club and captain of the team, I am embarrassed that we are in this situation and that I failed to uphold my responsibilities as a leader to prevent it. I am disappointed I did not adequately process the situation, and intervene, in the moment.
“Some of the costumes and skits that took place are unbecoming and contrary to the values of our club and standards we expect of the playing group. I understand that as leaders we need to learn from this situation and ensure it never happens again.”
The Giants players were allowed to respond to the league’s proposed sanctions over the past 24 hours.
Coaches and staff were in attendance for the early parts of the Wacky Wednesday event, but left before the offensive skits.
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