Toby Greene’s manager has questioned whether a $20,000 AFL fine would be too much for the GWS captain over the players’ function debacle.
But Paul Connors acknowledges the Giants captain “needed to be better”.
Greene and several teammates had until Thursday morning to reply to the league, which has investigated last month’s post-season function and has let them know the proposed penalties.
Several players are said to be facing suspension, while the speculation is that Greene, as captain, will be fined.
The penalties will probably be made public by Friday.
GWS and the league looked into the function, held in the week after the club’s season ended with a straight-sets finals exit.
An anonymous tip alerted the club, with the AFL also becoming involved, and the Giants have said some of the allegations are “distressing and entirely contrary to the club’s values and policies.”
After blowing a lead in their qualifying final against Sydney, GWS were 44 points ahead at home against eventual premiers Brisbane before losing that match as well.
“Toby accepts that he’s the leader of the club and he needed to be better,” Connors told SEN on Thursday morning.
“But additionally, he had as much interest being on that Mad Monday as you would have done. He’d lost a game (where) he was up by 44 points.
“He was emotionally drained and not in a state of thinking about anything.
“So yes, Toby accepts that he could have done things better, but again, it’s others to debate whether $20,000 is too much.”
Greene was last year’s All-Australian captain and is a foundation Giants player, with 239 games for the club since 2012.
© AAP