GWS’ Greene says reputation may haunt him

GWS co-captain Toby Greene admits the idea he’s known more for controversial moments than his footballing skill frustrates him, although he concedes he’s only got himself to blame.

A circumspect Greene, who had been suspended for 14 matches and fined $29,350 across his career to the end of the 2021 season, said he burned watching his teammates play the first five rounds of this campaign while serving a ban for his most infamous moment.

That incident saw him bump an umpire against Sydney in last year’s finals, with an initial three-week ban handed down by the tribunal increased to six weeks on appeal.

Regarding his perhaps-negative reputation, Greene hoped the footballing world would move on.

“At the time, it probably frustrates me and certainly what happened in the finals series last year burned for a couple of weeks, no doubt about that,” he told Fox Sports.

“But I move on pretty quick, I think the footy world moves on pretty quick as well.

“It’s just part of it, and I’ve got myself in some controversial incidents in high-profile games. I don’t try to do it, but it just seems to happen.”

Of his umpire bump, Greene admitted there was no excuse for his actions.

“Obviously it got talked about quite heavily … and rightfully so, it was the wrong thing to do,” he said.

“Three weeks was probably a fair whack and then when they said we’re going back (to an appeal) there was no point rocking up, I was getting six (weeks).

“I certainly learned my lesson, it burned not playing the first five games of this year.”

Meanwhile, Greene insisted the Giants don’t need a complete rebuild despite a 5-13 campaign highlighted by the sacking of coach Leon Cameron.

“We don’t need a whole reset, I don’t think that and I don’t think the club thinks that at all either,” he said.

“We as players haven’t performed up to our level this year, Leon probably copped it unfairly … but we certainly think we should be better than what we are and we need to deliver on that as a playing group.”