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Toby Greene takes swipe at Isaac Heeney as AFL fans rip 'disgraceful' GWS Giants act

The Giants' social media account uploaded a clip of their captain mocking Heeney's apology video.

ben talintyre
Sports Reporter
·5-min read

The Giants and Swans' rivalry has been turned up a notch after GWS captain Toby Greene took a swipe at Isaac Heeney after the star Swan had his one-game suspension upheld by the AFL Appeals Board hearing. Heeney is ineligible to win the Brownlow Medal after a last-ditch attempt to clear him for swatting Jimmy Webster in the face failed on Thursday night.

Heeney was trying to break away from Webster with a swatting action but caught his opponent across the face, leaving him with a bloody nose. The Swans took their case to the appeals board after failing at the tribunal, but the board upheld his one-match ban. Heeney will therefore miss the weekend's clash with North Melbourne.

Pictured left Toby Greene and right Isaac Heeney
AFL fans have slammed Toby Greene for his video mocking Isaac Heeney's apology. Image: Getty

Following the ruling the Swans uploaded a video of Heeney thanking the club and its supporters in the wake of his failed appeal, with the Brownlow Medal fancy now ineligible for footy's highest individual award. "I'm obviously extremely disappointed with that result," Heeney said in a video statement released by the club. "It's pretty shattering, to be honest.

"I can guarantee one thing - that when I'm back I'll make sure that I do this club proud, the supporters proud and my family proud. It starts this weekend. I obviously won't be on the footy field but I'll be there to support the boys and the coaching staff and the staff at the club here. Then obviously I want to flow on from that and make sure this year's a special one."

In response, the Giants uploaded a video of their own on Friday of Greene mocking Heeney's apology video. “Hey guys, obviously pretty shattered to get fined again over the weekend,” Greene began.

“I just wanted to jump on here and give a heartfelt sorry to all the Giants fans and the wider AFL community along with my family. I can guarantee one thing, that it will not happen again, that’ll be tough, and I promise to pay the fine all by myself. I’ll do everything I can to make sure this year is a special one. Again, thank you all for your support.”

While the Giants star is never one to miss an opportunity for some banter, the low blow has not gone down well with Swans or Giants fans with many saying that it was not right to kick a man when he is down.

And some GWS members claimed they no longer wanted anything to do with the club as the Giants' social media team was clearly complicit by uploading the video to their official X account. However, not everyone was upset, as others said it was all just light-hearted fun and not to take it too seriously.

Sydney will use captain Callum Mills's long-awaited return to fuel them for their North Melbourne clash following their Heeney disappointment this week. Mills will slot straight into the senior side in Heeney's absence.

Mills's return comes at an opportune time with Sydney attempting to put an end to a two-match losing run when they take on Alastair Clarkson's 17th-ranked side. The hard-running midfielder has spent eight months on the sidelines after damaging the rotator cuff in his left shoulder while wrestling with a teammate at a post-season event in September.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 08: Callum Mills of the Swans runs out onto the field during the First Elimination Final AFL match between Carlton Blues and Sydney Swans at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on September 08, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Callum Mills will make his long-awaited return for the Swans this weekend.

His return was set back further when he suffered a low-grade calf strain in April. Though the setbacks were frustrating for the 27-year-old, teammate Hayden McLean said Mills was in as good as condition as ever ahead of his return.

"If you look at the nick he's in at the moment, it's probably the best I've seen him since I've been at the club. He's looking strong, big, lean and powerful," McLean said. "We've missed him and to keep the vibes going, to get the captain of the club back, especially 'Millsy', it's a massive boost for us.

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"As a captain and not being in a team that's winning and not being able to impact on the field has probably been a bit harder for him. But even on the game, he's at the bench every match and helping us in any aspect he can."

with AAP