GWS players face bans over ‘distasteful’ acts at post-season event

Several players have been offered suspensions as an AFL probe continues over alleged “inappropriate behaviour” at a post-season event.

GWS players. (Photo by Jason McCawley/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

Up to 10 GWS Giants players have been offered suspensions as an AFL probe continues over alleged “inappropriate behaviour” at a post-season function.

The league has handed bans to multiple players but they will be given the chance to respond as part of negotiations, according to Seven’s Mitch Cleary, with others to be fined.

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The incident took place at a post-season event with a dress-up theme of “celebrity couples”, and while the Giants’ own probe has cleared the players of any illegal activity, the league has come down hard on the as-yet-undisclosed incidents.

Nine’s Tom Morris reported “up to 10” players are expected to be sanctioned over the Wacky Wednesday incident.

The Giants could be without up to 10 players. Photo by Phil Hillyard

The Age reported “a handful” were expected to be banned over “highly inappropriate” skits which were held in a private room of a hotel, which was closed off to the public.

Coaches and staff were there for the early parts of the event but not during the offensive skits.

“Multiple Giants players are facing AFL bans in relations to inappropriate behaviour,” Mitch Cleary reported.

“It centres around distasteful costumes and skits from their postseason function at the end of the 2024 season.

“It’s understood the dress-ups theme was celebrity couples with activities related to that.

The Giants could be without several players to start 2025. (Photo by Jason McCawley/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)

“It was a players-only event, no victims were centred from the public. A number of players have been given suspensions, the AFL giving those players a chance to respond as part of negotiations. Other players will be hit with financial penalties.

“Some of those players are tonight overseas and just learning of this in the last few hours.

“It’s understood the club’s own internal probe has cleared the players of any illegal activity, but tonight this is in the hands of the AFL. The Giants preparing to be without multiple players to start the 2025 season.”

In a club statement, GWS said: “The Giants are aware of an anonymous allegation of inappropriate behaviour at the players’ end-of-season event last month.

“The club and its integrity unit have been working with the AFL’s integrity unit to investigate. The club will make no further comment until the outcomes of the investigation have been finalised.”

Originally published as GWS players face bans over ‘distasteful’ acts at post-season event