The GWS Giants have again come under fire for a controversial gesture following their heartstopping win over Richmond on Saturday.

After narrowly avoiding a huge boilover (they snuck home against the rebuilding Tigers by just three points), the Giants’ social media team decided to taunt Richmond midfielder Tim Taranto, who left the Giants at the end of the 2022 season.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: GWS Giants miss mark with Tim Taranto post.

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The social media team posted a photo of Taranto celebrating, with the score and the word ‘WIN’ splashed across the image. Taranto was wearing a GWS jumper.

The Agenda Setters host Craig Hutchison had a serious issue with the controversial act.

After applauding former GWS skipper Callan Ward (who spoke to media and his teammates despite a career-threatening injury), Hutchison said, “That’s class ... this is not class.

“He played a very good game, Taranto, but it’s just cheekiness at the end of the game. Their social team have been well acclaimed over the journey ...”

Collingwood premiership hero Dale Thomas said the Giants social team had been “brilliant” over the years.

“But this has been a miss,” he said.

“I like near on everything they do. I thought the stuff that they’ve done around pretty much every team they come up against, has been fantastic.

“But that was a miss.

“And you take into consideration that Tim Taranto shared the plane back with Cal Ward and then drove him home and dropped him to his place of residence ... That was a miss by the Giants.”

Veteran AFL journalist Caroline Wilson agreed.

“That’s poor sportsmanship,” she said.

“And they’ve had to apologise already once this year for that banner with the Sydney Swans.”

The Giants social team regularly stir the pot, and have offended their crosstown rival on multiple occasions.

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Last year the Swans said they were over the Giants’ “low-brow” trolling, following a video from Tobe Greene (who mocked Isaac Heeney) and another from former player Cooper Hamilton (who called the Swans’ 150-year history a joke and also hinted they might be salary-cap cheating).

In the meantime, Ward has confirmed Taranto’ generosity.

“I flew back (to Melbourne) straight after the game finished,” he said on Triple M.

“I was actually on Richmond’s flight, and Tim Taranto drove me home from the airport. Back in Melbourne with the family, with my wife (and kids).”

Ward, who has played over 300 games for the Bulldogs and GWS, ruptured his ACL within the first 10 minutes of Saturday’s match.

While not officially saying he has retired, the 35-year-old said this year was always going to be his last.

“I’ve managed to play for 18 years. I’ve played a lot of games and there’s been a lot of others worse off than me. I’m pretty grateful for the time I’ve had so far. It’s been a good ride,” he said.

“This was always the year I wanted to have as my last (year) and potentially play in the premiership; that was the dream.

“Now, this has happened … I don’t know. I’ll focus on the surgery, which will happen in a couple of weeks, get back to the club, be around the boys, and think more about things afterwards.”