GWS star Toby Greene snubbed for goal-of-the-week nomination
As the football world debates whether GWS star Toby Greene is being prejudged by umpires, another mini storm erupted over the AFL snubbing him for a goal-of-the-week nomination.
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Has the AFL cancelled Toby Greene?
As the football world debates whether the GWS Giants star is being prejudged by umpires, another mini storm erupted on social media over the AFL snubbing Greene for a goal-of-the-week nomination.
Greene was the game’s most derided player last season. But even opposition supporters replied in big numbers to the AFL’s official post, asking how the polarising forward’s brilliant contested over-the-shoulder goal against Collingwood wasn’t better than the three nominations?
Fox Footy had Greene’s pinpoint special as its goal of the week, but if the GWS star is going to be a contender for goal of the year, he’s going to have to come up with something even more special.
Channel 7 commentator Wayne Carey lauded Greene’s goal against Collingwood on the night, although it’s a very subjective — and in some ways trivial — subject.
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That said, it’s becoming increasingly clear that it’s not easy being Greene.
Respected former AFL umpire Derek Humphery-Smith said it was a “myth” that Greene is judged differently by umpires, but he admitted the GWS star’s aggressive style meant he does live in the subconscious of officials.
Humphery-Smith said the missed free kicks not paid for Greene last week were nothing more than regulation errors, but said umpires wouldn’t be doing their jobs if they weren’t aware that the 26-year-old attacks the contest as aggressively as anyone.
“I don’t think it’s necessarily his past reputation, he is one of those players who, something happens regularly when he’s near the ball,” said Humphery-Smith.
“He commits to the footy with such aggression that it’s not surprising that umpires will be alert to whether there is a free kick that he’s giving away or he’s entitled to.
“I thought on the weekend, he was probably hardly done-by with one high tackle and unfortunately, because it’s Toby Greene, the commentators, particularly the television commentators, immediately jump on it and try and make an issue out of what was just an error.
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“What would be very alive in umpires’ minds is whenever he goes into a marking contest, they’re conscious of what he does with his legs in a marking contest, particularly if it’s one-on-one.
“You could name a player in every side where there would be a particular incident that player would be well known for. That happens in all teams.
“He’s not judged differently. He just attacks the footy hard and sometimes the umpires will get it right and sometimes they’ll get it wrong.”
Humphery-Smith believes Greene also doesn’t help himself with high contact interpretations, because of his penchant to drop his height.
“If we weren’t aware of particular combatants, I think the umpiring group would be criticised for not being sufficiently aware,” he said.
‘PLEASE EXPLAIN’: GREENE YET TO RECEIVE A FREE KICK IN 2020
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Toby Greene is just one part of a ‘please explain’ GWS are seeking from the AFL over why the club is systematically coming out on the bad side of umpires.
AFL greats are adamant Greene is being prejudged by officials because of his bad boy reputation, with the superstar forward yet to be paid a free kick in 2020, despite having six blown against him.
And while GWS will ask the AFL for clarification on Greene’s bewildering treatment against Collingwood, for them, the real issue is the overall hammering they feel they’ve copped from umpires for the past five years’ running.
Damning statistics from Champion Data show that the Giants have either been ranked last or second last in the AFL for free-kick differential dating back to 2016.
GWS aren’t kicking and screaming, particularly not after a win, but privately they don’t believe they can be that unlucky over such a sustained period of time.
News Corp understands GWS sought clarification from the AFL over umpiring decisions following the loss to North Melbourne a fortnight ago, and will again be sending specific clips to officials this week in a bid to better understand why they’re being penalised for incidents where their opposition is not.
GWS are happy to be told that players could be better with technique in certain instances, but are hoping to get some concessions back from the AFL that umpires could also improve. They want to work with the umpires not against them.
GWS have the worst free-kick record so far this year – even more stunning given there have been no crowds – and were dead last in 2019 with an extraordinary differential of minus 102. Between 2016-18, the club was ranked 17th out of the 18 clubs.
Against Collingwood last week Greene was tackled high at one point and failed to get a free kick for it, only for the Giants to be penalised for an almost identical incident later in the match.
St Kilda great and Fox Footy expert Leigh Montagna is adamant Greene is being inadvertently victimised.
“He doesn’t (get a fair run). I’m glad people made comment on that over the weekend because I was watching the footy on Friday night and thought the exact same thing as everyone else,” said Montagna.
“I don’t think it’s deliberate, but umpires are human and maybe subconsciously there’s something in it.
“It just does seem like he gets a harsh run from the umpires.”
Greene might be 0-6 for free kicks this season, but in 2019 he had 24 for and 29 against and between 2012-18 he had 173 for and 177 against – a much more even equation.
Western Bulldogs great and fellow Fox Footy commentator Brad Johnson defended the umpires.
“I’m not sure whether umpires go, ‘Toby Greene’s going for that one, I’m not going to pay a free kick,’” he said.
“That’s not the way it works or the way the umpires operate.
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“I’d say he’s judged contest to contest that he’s involved in. It’s not about who he is as an individual. He’s just been a bit unlucky.”
Meanwhile, GWS had some shock injury news on Monday with Phil Davis considered a chance to take on Hawthorn this week despite suffering a hamstring issue against Collingwood.
Zac Williams on the other hand, who the Giants originally thought might be able to back-up, is now expected to miss up to four weeks, also with a hamstring problem.
It’s understood Davis’ issue is more with back spasms rather than anything with the hamstring itself.
Originally published as GWS star Toby Greene snubbed for goal-of-the-week nomination