GWS Giants players named as Jarryd Hayne link emerges

GWS players have been named and now details of the “offensive” dress-up skits involving high-profile figures are also coming to light.

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

The GWS Giants players involved and now some of the subjects at the centre of “distasteful” dress-up skits during the AFL club’s Wacky Wednesday celebrations have been revealed.

It was reported on Tuesday night up to 10 Giants players have been offered punishments as a result of a complaint made about their conduct. The Giants confirmed they were aware of the AFL’s investigation into the matter.

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According to 7News reporter Mitch Cleary, the league is giving the players involved a chance to respond to the punishments handed down.

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

The Herald Sun is now reporting some of the antics included players dressing up as ex-NRL star Jarryd Hayne along with a blow-up sex doll, New York’s former World Trade Center and Chicago Bull Josh Giddey.

Players stand in the GWS Giants jumper, while Rachael Gunn was allegedly mocked at the club function.

Heavy punishments are believed to be coming that will impact GWS’ start to the 2025 campaign.

“They’re going to be suspended for a couple of games – I reckon a handful of players,” Cleary said on Triple M.

Hayne was ultimately cleared in June this year of sexual assault, while Giddey was also cleared after an investigation into allegations of a relationship with a minor while he was competing in the NBA.

The Giants issued a statement on Wednesday night as they hit back at “misinformation” being spread amid the ongoing investigation.

“The Giants confirmed yesterday the club is aware of allegations of inappropriate behaviour at the players’ end-of-season event last month,” the club statement read.

“The club is taking the matter very seriously and acted swiftly upon the receipt of the concerns. All parties have co-operated fully with the AFL to ensure the allegations are fully investigated.

“Some of the allegations are distressing and entirely contrary to the club’s values and policies. There is also a level of misinformation and rumour being circulated which is entirely inappropriate, particularly while the investigation is ongoing.

“The club will comment further once the outcomes of the investigation are finalised.”

Jarryd Hayne was allegedly a target of the dress-up party.

The Age reported “a handful” of players 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.

Channel 9’s Tom Morris also revealed new details about the scandal on Wednesday with the first players being named.

“Today, the Giants players are making submissions in response to some heavy proposed penalties from the AFL,” Morris said on AFL Trade Radio.

“There’s a group of players that have been fined significantly, and there’s another group of players who have been suspended.

“The group of players that have been suspended are the ones who were allegedly involved in the skits that were disrespectful.

“But the fines, by and large, (are) from a leadership perspective. And my understanding is one of those fines is $20,000 to Toby Greene ... he’s been fined from a leadership perspective.

“All I know is that he wasn’t directly involved in the skits, but he’s been fined $20,000 ... (and) there is a common view among the Giants players and the club more generally ... that the punishments from the league are far too heavy-handed for a private event that was players-only.”

Morris later reported via X that Josh Fahey was one of the ‘approximately six’ players involved in the alleged skits.

Josh Fahey (left) is one of the players in the gun. Photo by Phil Hillyard.

The 20-year-old Fahey, whose contract expired this season and is currently unsigned for next year, has played seven senior games through three seasons.

Cleary also reported on Wednesday that Greene — who ‘wasn’t directly involved’ in the skits — was dressed as Olympic breakdancer Raygun.

Morris offered up insights into the incident earlier on Wednesday as new details surrounding the saga came to light.

“It’s the belief of the Giants players that the story got out because a bartender at the pub made a complaint,” Morris said on SEN Breakfast.

“They were in a private room. A couple of players did a skit from a movie. One player, who is set to be fined quite significantly dressed up as Raygun (Aussie Olympian Rachael Gunn).

“I can’t imagine that player being fined for dressing up as Raygun. Who knows what actions that player did.”

He said around six players will be suspended from the start of the 2025 AFL season.

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

Morris said outgoing GWS players Isaac Cumming and James Peatling are not among the players facing suspensions.

“One young player in particular, who is said to have made an ill-informed joke about (rapper) P Diddy is set for the harshest suspension,” Morris reported.

He said the football club has been “shocked” by the punishments offered with players “pushing back” against the suspensions.

Morris said fines of up to $20,000 have been offered.

He said some Giants players learned the AFL as looking into the incident during the preliminary final weekend — one week after the club’s season ended with a semi-final loss to Brisbane.

The AFL will reportedly announce the punishments handed down in the next 24-48 hours.

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

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

Toby Greene has been handed a substantial fine. Photo by Phil Hillyard

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

“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.”