GWS players cop suspensions and fines for tasteless Wacky Wednesday skit

The AFL has come down hard on GWS after their Wacky Wednesday skits, with six players whacked with suspensions and others facing financial penalties.

The AFL has handed down suspensions to six Greater Western Sydney players and fined seven club leaders $5000 each over distasteful and offensive behaviour at last month’s ‘Wacky Wednesday private function which included simulated inappropriate acts on a sex doll and enacting a scene from a movie “characterising slavery”.

A furious AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon announced the penalties on Thursday night, saying the league was in “disbelief” at the inappropriate behaviour at a private function at a Sydney hotel on September 18.

Fringe Giant Josh Fahey, who has played seven games for the club, will miss the start of next season after being banned for four matches for his part in the offensive dress-ups and skits.

The investigation from the AFL’s Integrity Unit and the Giants found Fahey was dressed as controversial former NRL player Jarrod Hayne and simulated inappropriate acts on a sex doll during a ‘Controversial Couples” theme.

Josh Fahey has copped a four-game ban. Photo by Phil Hillyard

Five other players – Jake Riccardi, Joe Fonti, Toby McMullin, Harvey Thomas, Cooper Hamilton (who has since been delisted) – were each suspended for two matches for their involvement.

Giants captain Toby Greene was one of seven players worth $5000 each, along with Lachie Whitfield, Connor Idun, Tom Green, Sam Taylor, Lachie Keeffe and new Magpie Harry Perryman.

Dillon said investigation of the AFL Integrity Unit and the Giants had found the players had made “terrible choices” as he praised the anonymous complainant who came forward the day after the function.

“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,” Mr Dillon said.

Toby Greene was one of the fined Giants. Photo by Phil Hillyard

“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.

It comes as New South Wales liquor and gaming officials confirmed they were also investigating what happened at the function.

It is understood CCTV footage formed part of the investigations.

The AFL investigation found that McMullin and Hamilton simulated the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in costume related to that 2001 event.

Thomas dressed as a “particular professional sportsman” and Fonti as a girl, acting inappropriately during their skit.

Jake Riccardi was also suspended. Photo by Phil Hillyard

Idun and Whitfield “enacted a scene from the movie Django Unchained characterising slavery.”

The club’s 2024 “senior leaders” including Greene were found to have “failed to display appropriate levels of leadership reasonably expected of each of them in failing to step in to stop the acts continuing.”

Dillon stopped short of calling for an end to club end of season festivities, but stressed the AFL would not hesitate to punish those players who do the wrong thing.

“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,” he said.

“What transpired at (this) 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.”

The AFL chief executive said the league had the players’ “full cooperation” in the investigation, but that CCTV footage from the venue hired by the Giants had been “helpful” after the incidents were reported via the AFL Integrity portal the following day on September 19. No Giants staff were penalised over the “controversial couples” themed function, which Dillon said had been driven by the players.

“I would like to pay credit to whoever it was who made the complaint, and thank them for not walking past the behaviours on display that day … like the complainant, we are not prepared to walk past these behaviours, and that is why consequences have been applied,” Dillon said.

GWS chief executive Dave Matthews said there was “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.

“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.”

The Giants will 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.

Originally published as GWS players cop suspensions and fines for tasteless Wacky Wednesday skit