Toby Greene will have to change his marking style, says GWS Giants coach Leon Cameron
LEON Cameron says Toby Greene’s Kung fu marking style will need to change quickly after the AFL ruled the double movement he used against Swans defender Nic Newman was illegal.
GWS
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GWS coach Leon Cameron says Toby Greene’s ‘fly-kick’ mark style will need to change quickly after the AFL ruled the double movement he used against Sydney defender Nic Newman last Saturday was illegal.
Greene escaped suspension but the judgment from the MRO that a free kick should have been paid against him caught Cameron’s attention.
The livewire forward will have to make some rapid adjustments to his game ahead of Saturday night’s semi-final against Collingwood at the MCG.
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“Going forward if that is going to be a free kick paid against for the double-action then clearly I don’t want Toby to be giving away free kicks,” Cameron said.
“We have to work on the double action. The other incidents were all clear. At the end of the year the AFL look at that then we have the entire summer to work on techniques if Toby needs to change his.
“I understand there is a grey area on the action, we’re not hiding away from that but when the rules are set in place there are players that can push those limits.”
Cameron said he had not been contacted by the AFL in relation to Greene’s controversial marking style and didn’t expect anybody to. He also pointed out the talented small forward has been using the unusual technique from a young age and he isn’t the first to use it.
“It’s an action Toby has been performing since junior level,” Cameron said.
“No doubt when you step up the plate at AFL you are going to get more scrutiny. It’s only been the last couple of years because he’s been more forward.
“When he was playing in the midfield he would always try to get an advantage in a marking duel with his leg. We’ve seen over time other players do that, I’m not going to mention any other players names but they find a way to put space between their opponent and the ball, which is really smart.”
Greene’s teammates also spoke out in support with Lachie Whitfield questioning why the scrutiny has come in the middle of the finals.
“He’s played like that for six years I don’t know why it’s coming up now,” Whitfield said.
“The one the AFL ruled as a free kick was the one he stayed on the ground and didn’t jump at the ball. They ruled it was two movements. When he does jump at the ball and uses his leg to protect his space I don’t know how that will be judged a free kick, it’s smart.”