Mick McGuane Q&A with GWS superstar Toby Greene
Toby Greene has been getting under the skin of opponents, fans and — as he reveals in a Q&A with Mick McGuane — the parents of rival players since his junior footy days.
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He’s one of the most polarising Giants who has mixed sublime moments of skill with the frustration of injury.
Collingwood legend Mick McGuane goes one-on-one with enigmatic GWS forward Toby Greene to find out what takes the star tick.
MICK McGUANE: It’s a massive game tonight against Essendon — and your old mate Dylan Shiel. How important is it for the Giants to consolidate a top four spot?
TOBY GREENE: I guess every game from now to the end of the season is pretty important. The Bombers are up and about, even if they’ve been a bit inconsistent. I’m looking forward to it. It’s good to play a Thursday night game.
MM: Do you focus more on the Bombers or concentrate more on what you’ve got to do?
TG: It’ll be more about us. Obviously, you’ve got to acknowledge what the opposition are good at. We’ve probably identified a couple of things. We know what we want to do, we just need to keep reinforcing it.
MM: It’s good to see you back playing consistent footy. Is your body feeling the way it should be now with a bit more continuity in performance?
TG: Yeah, it’s starting to feel really good. I had a little bit of an interrupted pre-season with the ankle. I’ve had a really good build into the season. It was a bit annoying with the calf in Round 1. It’s just about continuity now and starting to play consistent, good footy.
MM: Where do you play your best footy?
TG: Forward.
MM: I reckon you are the Giants’ barometer. Do you expect to play more midfield minutes off the back of Matt De Boer’s injury?
TG: Matt’s probably the best in the comp in his role. I don’t know if I’m the man for that. Hopefully one of the younger boys might be able to step up and fill a midfield position, but I’m sure if I have to, I’ll help to chop out a bit.
MORE GREENE, GIANTS:
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Leon Cameron hits back at Malcolm Blight’s comments that Toby Greene ‘shouldn’t have been born’
GWS has no chance of winning the premiership without a fit Toby Greene, writes Mick McGuane
Toby Greene says studs-up rule is something to ‘tell the grandkids about’
MM: What’s the Giants’ biggest strength?
TG: Our contested footy and our ability to create goals. We have a lot of hard, contested players. We seem to find different ways to win of late. It’s good to see we can do it in a couple of different ways, like the North Melbourne game. We outscrapped them. Our defensive stuff has gotten much better over the past few years.
MM: The footy public still questions the Giants’ ability to perform in Melbourne, particularly at the MCG. Is that fair?
TG: I don’t buy into it too much. I guess over the past few years we’ve had a couple of bad games there. We won our last game (at the MCG) and we may win a few more games there by the end of the year.
MM: Malcolm Blight recently used a throwaway line after Jeremy Howe wasn’t paid that mark on Queen’s Birthday, saying ‘Toby Greene should never have been born’. He was talking about ‘the Toby Greene’ rule. Were you offended?
TG: I didn’t read too much into Malcolm Blight’s comments. I didn’t even know about it until one of the Giants directors called me. I couldn’t care less.
MM: Leon Cameron stood up for you. He said ‘What would Toby’s mum think?’ For the record, what did your mum think, Tobes?
TG: I wouldn’t want her to run into Malcolm … she’s not too happy with him.
MM: Was Jeremy Howe’s “mark” a mark?
TG: Personally, I think it should be a mark, but under the new rules it’s pretty clear cut it isn’t. I wasn’t sure why people were debating it. Lots of players over the years have marked like that. I guess it would be something most players would do to gain an edge with the new rules, it’s a free kick unless they alter it at the end of the year.
MM: Did you have to change your marking technique because of the rule change?
TG: I remember doing it a lot when I was playing under 9s for Ashburton and parents hated it, but that’s just how I played. It was always within the rules. Obviously, I’ve had to change it because it’s a free kick every time I do it. It only happens once or twice every five or six weeks so it’s not really a huge factor in how I play.
MM: Did you seek help from a psychologist to manage your discipline issues, on and off the field, to stop spending unnecessary time on the sidelines?
TG: Yeah, it’s obviously taken a few discussions. I also think it’s just natural maturity. It’s not fun when you’re sitting on the sidelines, I learned that pretty quickly. I’ve definitely had to mature since I got drafted. It’s all part of growing up when you’re playing AFL footy.
MM: Has footy helped you evolve as a person?
TG: You have to grow up a lot quicker, especially when you have to move out of home at 18. It’s the best thing that ever happened. Moving out of home with 20 other 18 year-olds is pretty fun. It felt more like a school camp the first couple of years. I wouldn’t change it.
MM: You were drafted as pick 11 in the 2011 national draft. Looking back now, were you ready to go live in a new state?
TG: I actually thought I was going to Brisbane. I was pretty flat when I didn’t. I didn’t know too much about Western Sydney. It’s turned out to be an awesome experience.
MM: Tell us about the influence of Kevin Sheedy, your inaugural coach?
TG: I went for the Bombers growing up, so I always loved Sheedy. He’s definitely an enigma and a big part of the game. If you actually sit down and talk to him he’s so passionate about the game. He has so many ideas that are so different to other people. The game should be so grateful for him.
MM: You were a part of the Giants’ inaugural team in 2012, alongside Israel Folau. He is in the news now for the wrong reasons. Did the Folau AFL experiment work?
TG: I was just worried about what I was going to have for dinner that night back then. I wasn’t too global in my approach. There were definitely a lot of naysayers who thought it wouldn’t work. It was a great experience at the time. He was probably the only one anyone knew in western Sydney at the start.
MM: Do any of you guys have any connection with Israel now?
TG: Not that I know of. I don’t think many boys would catch up with him too much. We occasionally see him around at different training facilities. He was great while he was in the club.
MM: There’s seven players from that 2012 Round 1 team still at the club — Adam Kennedy, Phil Davis, Callan Ward, Stephen Coniglio, Jeremy Cameron, Adam Tomlinson and yourself. Are you proud to be one of those seven?
TG: It’s pretty cool to say that you were the first to play in a franchise. I’m still here and I’ve obviously got a pretty close bond with all the boys who are still here. Hopefully we’ll win a premiership together.
MM: Have you and Josh Kelly left the Giants with enough money to sign your great mate Stephen Coniglio, who is being chased by Victorian clubs?
TG: (laughs) I think there’s still some money left.
MM: So you’re confident he’ll stay?
TG: Yeah I’m confident.
MM: Was a flag your main motivation for signing a six-year contract with the Giants last year?
TG: I love the club and I love living in Sydney. I didn’t want to sign for a club that wasn’t in a premiership window. So I thought I would stay here for as long as I can.
MM: How have you seen Leon Cameron’s evolution?
TG: He’s been massive for me and for the group as well. He’s very honest and tells you how you’re going. I think he has gotten the best out of me.
MM: Is it insulting when some people suggested he has the keys to the Ferrari and yet still hasn’t won a flag?
TG: No, I think it’s pretty cool. I drive a Volkswagen.
MM: What would you say to the people who have suggested the Giants have underachieved by not winning a flag so far?
TG: I don’t think we’ve underachieved. I think we’re pretty open to winning the premiership. I know there are a lot of good sides around. I would say we have achieved, if we made finals. We’ve been there the past three years — and gone pretty deep. Obviously we haven’t made a granny yet. We are working towards that this year and that’s what we desperately want. We haven’t achieved the ultimate, but only club does that a year, so it’s not easy.
MM: Was 2016 the one that got away?
TG: It does hurt that one. Looking back it was probably a really good opportunity to win one. It wasn’t easy to watch back (the preliminary final thriller against eventual premier Western Bulldogs).
MM: You got heavily booed in last year’s elimination final against the Swans? Do you see that as a badge of honour?
TG: I wouldn’t say it’s a badge of honour but I guess it’s just part of footy. It doesn’t offend me or anything like that.
MM: What do you do off the field, mate?
TG: I’m doing a commerce degree, very slowly though. I had an exam this week and think it went all right. I should be finished when my footy is over.
MM: You’ve had some big names walk through the door — Steve Johnson, Heath Shaw, Chad Cornes, Luke Power, Ryan Griffen, Brett Deledio. Who’s had the biggest influence on you from those players?
TG: Stevie J was massive for me. I still go to dinner with him and his family. He plays a similar fashion that I do. I respect his opinion.
MM: Thanks for your time, Toby, and good luck tonight.
TG: Cheers, Mick.
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