Giants star Tom Green opens up on ‘Wacky Wednesday’ scandal

A GWS Giants star has spoken publicly for the first time since the club’s now notorious “Wacky Wednesday” dress-up skits.

GWS star Tom Green has spoken out for the first time since the Giants made headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Green, 23, was among the group of players who copped significant suspensions and fines over the club’s now notorious “Wacky Wednesday” dress-up skits.

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The incident took place at a post-season event with a dress-up theme of “celebrity couples”, and the league came down hard on those involved.

AFL boss Andrew Dillon announced in a press conference in October that the players involved had broken league rules in relation to “conduct unbecoming”.

Green returned to the training track on Monday and said the incident had been a good learning curve for the players.

“Not good enough,” he said.

“There’s guys who, going into the next season, are going to miss games.

“It was a real error of judgment on all of our behalf and it’s been a real learning curve.

“On and off the field, it’s been an off-season where we had to learn a lot and had to get a lot better.”

Green opened up for the first time. (Photo by Matt King/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Green, skipper Toby Greene and fellow senior players Lachie Whitfield, Connor Idun, Sam Taylor and Harry Perryman were all fined $5000 each.

The 23-year-old said as a leader of the club he failed in his duties as the skits unfolded during the event.

“Just as a leader … inclusive of on the field but also off the field, I’m meant to be setting the example in being a role model,” Green said.

“In that moment, I failed to do so.

“It’s been an off-season of reflection and we’ve got to get a lot better.”

Green said he failed to step up. Photo by Phil Hillyard

Toby Greene copped a fine for not stopping the skits. Photo by Phil Hillyard

The Giants are coming off a heartbreaking finals series which saw them surrender big leads as they were sent packing in straight sets.

In a qualifying final against Sydney, the Giants gave up a 28-point lead before giving up a 44-point lead to Brisbane in a semi-final.

Green however scoffed at suggestions those brutal results had anything to do with their September displays.

“I don’t think the stuff that happened on that Wednesday really (has) any correlation to what happened on the field,” Green said.

“If anything, it’s probably more important that we get that right because that stuff just isn’t acceptable.

“In both respects, that is something that is a line-in-the-sand moment in terms of ‘right, that’s nowhere near good enough on and off the field’.

“The season ended really poorly from our point of view.

“There’s a whole lot of work for us to do, for us to be able to go to that next step and go where we think we’re good enough to go.

“Over the last couple years, we’ve just fallen short and it shows that we’re not good enough.”

The Giants were bundled out in heartbreaking scenes. Photo by Phil Hillyard

In the wake of the punishments being handed down to the Giants players, the club released a statement saying there was no excuse for the behaviour.

“There is absolutely no excuse for the behaviour that took place and we’re very distressed by some of the incidents that occurred,” Giants chief executive David Matthews said.

“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.

“We have taken these matters seriously from the outset with a full investigation by the club, alongside the AFL.

“On behalf of the club, I apologise to our members, partners and all stakeholders.

“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.”