Toby Greene proud to celebrate GWS Giants 100th game

NOT many players get to wear a jumper with their own image on it, but Toby Greene will do just that at Spotless Stadium as the Giants celebrate their 100th AFL appearance.

GWS midfielder Toby Green in the special 100th game jumper. Picture: Craig Greenhill

THERE will be no Giant more proud to wear the special commemorative jersey than Toby Greene when GWS plays its 100th game in the AFL.

Greene was there for the Giants’ first match at ANZ Stadium in Round 1, 2012 and has played in 85 of the first 99.

Only Callan Ward with 94 has played more.

“It’s something I’m proud of, being here from the start,” Greene told The Sunday Telegraph.

“It’s been a good journey so far, I’ve got a lot of my mates here and I’ve really enjoyed it so hopefully we can keep building and building.”

None of the previous 99 Giants games have had a build-up like the sold out match against the Swans at Spotless Stadium.

GWS sit sixth on the AFL ladder while its cross-town rival is second.

“We’ve only beaten the Swans once in the nine games so far which shows what a good team they have been for so long,” Greene said.

“They are probably the form team of the competition right now so they’re a team we can test ourselves against. If we want to be thereabouts at the end of the year these are the games we have to win.”

GWS player Toby Green wearing a special jersey for the upcoming local derby agains the Swans. Picture Craig Greenhill

The Giants have dropped their past two outings, to Geelong last week and Adelaide the week before.

A loss this weekend would not only take them two games outside the top four but put them in danger of falling outside the top eight.

“The second half of the year is going to be very important for us and it starts now,” Greene said.

With just 27 wins from their first 99 games, the second 100 games looks certain to bring a better win/loss record for GWS. With 17 debutants in their first ever game Greene said there was little surprise the team struggled in the first three seasons.

“It was always going to happen,” Greene said.

“You can’t expect 20 18-year-olds to play well in their first couple of years. We had a lot of weeks when we were up and down but we were always learning. That was always that holds us in good stead now. The first couple of years were about learning and we’ve formed a team we can go ahead with.”

Originally published as Toby Greene proud to celebrate GWS Giants 100th game