GWS Giants appoint Toby Greene as lone captain for 2023 season
GWS has settled on its leadership structure for the 2023 season, with a huge call made on which co-captain takes the mantle solo.
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Star forward Toby Greene has been appointed sole captain of the GWS Giants in 2023, after the side demoted two of its co-captains from last season.
The two-time All-Australian had shared the captaincy duties with Josh Kelly and former stand-alone skipper Stephen Coniglio last season, but will take the reins by himself at the western Sydney club.
“It’s a huge honour,” Greene said.
“I’ve come a long way and it took a long time, but I’ve done a lot of work on my leadership skills.
“As a young kid I was probably nowhere near it and was trying to find my way in AFL footy but I’m in my twelfth season now and I’ve been here since the start.”
Greene, 29, said he would lean heavily on his former co-captains Kelly and Coniglio.
“We’ve got a super strong relationship … we have a really strong bond and I’ll be relying heavily on those two throughout the year,” Greene said.
“I’m looking forward to getting to work with them, alongside the four new players who have been named in the leadership group as well.
“It’s an exciting mix with the four new guys and the three of us who have been here for a while.”
The trio will be joined in the leadership group by first-time members Tom Green, Harry Perryman, Sam Taylor and Connor Idun.
Inaugural co-captains Phil Davis and Callan Ward will oversee an emerging leaders’ group featuring Brent Daniels, Harry Himmelberg, Lachie Ash and Isaac Cumming.
GWS football boss Jason McCartney said the club was thrilled to name Greene as its stand-alone leader.
“Toby is not only one of the most dynamic players in the AFL competition, he’s also an outstanding leader who gets the most out of his teammates and is intent on driving the Giants forward to greater heights,” McCartney said.
“Since arriving at our club as an 18-year-old draftee, Toby has not only contributed to building the Giants, he has also continued to grow and develop as a player and a leader.
“With a new head coach and new coaching group, we undertook a thorough leadership process with a preference for one-captain model as we embark on a new chapter for our club.”
Originally published as GWS Giants appoint Toby Greene as lone captain for 2023 season
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