The GWS Giants have opted against challenging Toby Greene’s one-match ban for striking Isaac Heeney.
The skipper came under fire from the AFL match review officer for diving in with a late forearm to the back of the Sydney Swans star’s head in the derby on Friday night.
The strike was assessed as intentional conduct, low impact and high contact.
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7NEWS Melbourne’s Xander McGuire reported there was a thought that a GWS challenge could centre around the ‘low impact’ ruling and it was a glancing blow worth no more than a free kick.
But the club took a step back and Greene will now miss this Thursday’s crunch clash with the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium.
“It was a dirty act,” Kate McCarthy said on Channel 7’s Sunday Footy Feast after the Giants’ decision was announced.
“We don’t want to see those in the game.”
A Dogs (ninth, 11-8) victory would help their bid for the last spot in the top eight while simultaneously pulling the Giants (sixth, 13-6) back into the pack.
Greene has, meanwhile, escaped punishment for his verbal swipe at Tom Papley during a half-time interview.
GWS skipper Toby Greene is facing a suspension after he elbowed Sydney star Isaac Heeney in the back of the head.
Papley had angered Greene by running straight at the GWS star to let him know about a goal he had just kicked.
Greene fired back during a half-time interview, saying: “He’s looking overweight, we’ll see how he goes second half.”
The Giants trailed by 28 points at the main break but kicked 12 goals in the second half to Sydney’s one to secure a 44-point win.
“The AFL, GWS and the Swans have no issue with this half-time interview,” McGuire reported.
Papley appeared to have started the war of words over weight during a run-in with Jake Stringer on the boundary line.
Sydney coach Dean Cox was measured when asked about Greene’s comments.
“I think people, when they speak in the media, generally are really calculated to opposition players,” Cox said.
“Some players push the boundaries a little bit — Toby’s probably one of those.”
Elsewhere at the Giants, Josh Kelly and Jack Buckley have been ruled out for the rest of the home-and-away season with calf strains.
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