New All-Australian captain Toby Greene has apologised for “stitching up” Carlton‘s Jacob Weitering with post-game comments about an incident that nearly cost the Blues defender a suspension.
After his GWS Giants qualified for the finals by taking down Carlton last weekend, Greene, who was named All-Australian captain for the first time on Wednesday night, was asked on-field about the incident in which Weitering looked to have grabbed at his eyes.
Greene suggested that Weitering “might be in trouble”, having been being banned himself for similar contact to the eye region of Brisbane gun Lachie Neale in their 2019 final.
Weitering has never played a final, with the Blues entering the post-season for the first time since 2013, and Greene’s feedback heightened scrutiny of the incident.
But match assessment officer Michael Christian assessed the incident solely as careless conduct, low impression and excessive contact, leaving Weitering to simply accept a $3000 positive. The careless grading was essential as a result of an intentional ruling would have resulted in a one-match ban.
On Thursday morning, Greene appeared to express regret.
“I actually felt bad for Jacob after the game because I thought when Sarah (Jones) asked about my eye that that’s what he did,” he mentioned.
“I stitched him up a bit mate, so I’d like to apologise to Jacob and I’m glad he’s playing finals footy.
“I’m sure Carlton will have a red hot crack. I sort of stuffed that up after the game. I was under the impression that the cut on my eye was from him and it wasn’t.
“I didn’t realise until like half an hour after the game when someone said ‘you know that cut is on the other eye?’ and I said ‘OK, I’ve got that wrong’.
“I feel a bit bad for him because I almost stitched him up – so, sorry Jacob.”
There was loads of tribunal fallout from the Giants’ win over Carlton, with ahead Toby Bedford handed a one-week ban for a bump on Zac Fisher.
GWS is difficult the choice on the AFL Tribunal subsequent week and Greene is assured they may get the ban overturned and he’ll be capable of tackle St Kilda on the MCG in an elimination remaining subsequent Saturday.
“I’m not sure he actually hits him in the head when you ask Zac Fisher and I’m just not sure it was intentionally trying to hit his head, which I think he got charged with,” Greene advised SEN.
“We’re confident that we’ve got a strong case and I haven’t been party to the lawyer discussions, but I think that’s what we’re thinking.”
Originally printed as Toby Greene’s first act as All-Australian captain was to apologise to Jacob Weitering
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
