GWS stand-in skipper Toby Greene’s one-game ban for striking Patrick Dangerfield has been upheld by the AFL appeals board.
Key points:
- GWS forward Toby Greene’s elbow hit Geelong’s Patrick Dangerfield in the throat during their match last Friday
- The AFL Tribunal found Greene guilty of careless conduct, medium impact and high contact, resulting in a one-match ban
- The club appealed the decision, arguing an error in law, but the appeal was dismissed
Adrian Anderson, representing Greene, unsuccessfully argued there was an error of law in Tuesday night’s tribunal hearing.
Greene will miss the Giants’ crunch clash with Richmond on Friday night.
The Giants’ star forward was banned for two games for an incident involving Geelong’s Dangerfield in the first quarter of the Giants’ stunning win at Kardinia Park.
Dangerfield had attempted to tackle Greene, who put up his arm and his elbow caught the Geelong player across the throat.
Dangerfield went off the ground and was taken to hospital, suffering from a bruised larynx. He was kept overnight before being released on Sunday.
The Giants challenged Greene’s ban at the AFL Tribunal on Tuesday night.
They succeeded in having the impact reduced from high to medium, which led to the ban being reduced from two games to one — but the jury had found Greene chose to raise his elbow knowing that high contact was likely.
The club was not satisfied and chose to appeal.
Thursday’s hearing took more than three hours.
Greene will now be available for the team’s final round game against Carlton.
AAP/ABC
Source: AFL NEWS ABC