GWS star Toby Greene must fight to remain a part of the Giants’ premiership campaign after he was referred directly to the AFL tribunal for serious misconduct against the Western Bulldogs’ Marcus Bontempelli.
No details of the incident were given in match review officer (MRO) Michael Christian’s findings released on Sunday.
But vision has emerged of Greene grabbing at Bontempelli’s face and shoving his head to the ground as they wrestled on the turf in the first quarter of Saturday’s elimination final at Giants Stadium.
Greene has been found guilty of various offences on 16 occasions since he was the No.11 pick at the 2011 draft, paying out nearly $20,000 in fines and being banned for six matches in total.
He would usually front a tribunal hearing – in person or via video link – on Tuesday evening at AFL House in Melbourne, but that hearing could be brought forward to Monday.
Either way, it looms as a major setback for GWS, with Greene having starred in the 58-point win over the Dogs that set up a knockout semi-final against Brisbane on Saturday night at the Gabba.
It is unclear how severe a penalty Greene can expect if found guilty, but then-Carlton player Jed Lamb was hit with a one-game ban last year for making unnecessary contact with the eye region of St Kilda’s Jade Gresham.
Greene remonstrated strongly with Bontempelli after the Bulldog gave away a free kick for an illegal tackle on Brett Deledio.
The incident is the latest in a string of heated exchanges in the increasingly fierce rivalry between the clubs.
Greene has been booed by Dogs fans since levelling a karate kick at then-Bulldog Luke Dahlhaus’ face and receiving a two-match ban in 2017 for striking Caleb Daniel.
“I’m not too fazed about it … it was probably warranted in the past with a couple of incidents,” Greene replied on Friday when asked about his heated reception from Dogs fans.
Bontempelli escaped without penalty for a high bump on Nick Haynes in round 22 this season that left the Giant with a fractured larynx.
The Dogs’ superstar was physically targeted relentlessly by GWS throughout Saturday’s clash and was left bleeding from the mouth after a high hit by Harry Himmelberg. The Giant can accept a $2000 fine for the first-quarter incident.
Bulldogs Zaine Cordy and Matt Suckling were also fined $2000, Cordy for striking Matt de Boer and Suckling for making front-on contact with Jake Kelly.
In other MRO findings, Richmond’s Dylan Grimes was fined $1000 for staging in a much-debated first-quarter incident in the Tigers’ big qualifying final win against Brisbane.
Lions skipper Dayne Zorko was fined $1000 as well for staging, also in the first quarter.
