Mick McGuane says Toby Greene has let GWS Giants down and will be haunted by his preliminary final suspension
Collingwood great Mick McGuane says GWS star Toby Greene will be haunted by his preliminary final suspension unless the Giants cause a boilover without him.
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The pain of discipline is far less than the pain of regret.
Should the GWS Giants fail in the preliminary final tomorrow night, Toby Greene’s actions last week will live with him forever.
A smart footballer doesn’t even entertain the thought of doing what he did to Lachie Neale a week after he’d been fined $7500 for something so similar with Marcus Bontempelli.
That’s not tough. It’s stupidity.
Don’t give me the, ‘oh, it’s on the edge, it’s the way he plays’. There’s plenty of other ways to play on the edge, but not that way.
I can see a reason why he could have been let off on appeal at the tribunal, but just don’t put yourself in a position where you’re going to be questioned.
It’s inviting trouble and putting him squarely under the microscope.
For me, that lacks composure and footy acumen — particularly from someone who is otherwise very intelligent the way he goes about his footy.
I’d be staggered if the GWS leadership base didn’t have a chat to Greene after the Bontempelli incident.
You can’t let a player of that ilk do that sort of stuff.
Toby has to understand that with actions there’s always consequences and I’d be really disappointed if the GWS leadership hadn’t pulled him aside and said, ‘mate, we love you, but shit you’re treading on thin ice here. We need you next week. We need you the week after. This is what we all play for. And if you continually put yourself in these situations the day will come where it’ll go against you and go against us.’
Because of one controllable situation — Greene — and now one uncontrollable situation — Lachie Whitfield’s appendicitis — the Giants’ two best players are going to be in the grandstand.
That’s not going to win you games of footy, let me tell you.
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On Tuesday I originally thought it would be a joke if Greene was suspended. But when I saw that close-up frame showing the scrape over his eye or eye region — irrespective of what Lachie Neale said in his evidence — I think the video evidence probably is damning.
It was a stoppage. The ball wasn’t going anywhere. I just don’t think he really needed to entertain the thought of putting a hand in his face region, considering what he copped the week before.
Just bounce to your feet, get to your position, set up well for you and your team and just get on with the game.
I don’t think GWS can win without Greene, although I don’t think they win with him either.
Collingwood have had the perfect preparation.
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GWS won intercept marks 22-8 against Brisbane last week and Phil Davis and Nick Haynes are ranked No. 1 and No. 3 for intercept marks this year.
But I don’t think Collingwood will fall into the same trap as the Lions did in giving possession away when you consider the Magpies more dynamic forward line.
Obviously it’s a massive challenge for Shane Mumford this week in his ruck battle against Brody Grundy, particularly after Brisbane’s Stefan Martin took him to the cleaners at the Gabba.
Mumford has to understand he can’t give away eight free kicks in a game of footy.
Not only does it give your opposition easy territory but it flattens your midfield group around the ball.
I know Mumford is on old legs, but he cannot afford to allow Grundy the clearance opportunities he allowed to Martin.
First and foremost Mummy has to control his discipline. You can’t try and outreach or outjump Grundy at stoppages. Mumford is big and strong and he has to concentrate on using his bulk to advantage by being in front of Grundy at stoppage. It’s all about his body positioning.
When Whitfield and Greene haven’t played for the Giants as a package in the past, there’s been some train wreck losses.
GWS has a record of three wins and 15 losses at the MCG and more importantly they’ve failed in their two finals in Melbourne, including last year’s loss to Collingwood in the semi-final.
The Giants would want to be in front or within striking distance at three-quarter time because the Magpies have the second best scoring differential in final quarters — and GWS are ranked 11th.
You take out Greene and Whitfield, where is that run going to come from? Others must stand up.