A group of GWS players are set to face sanctions from the AFL – and potential bans to start the 2025 season – over an alleged incident at an end-of-season function.
According to Seven’s Mitch Cleary, suspensions have already been doled out to several players pending a right of reply amid an ongoing investigation by the AFL Integrity Unit, while yet more Giants players have been fined.
Nine’s Tom Morris reported that ‘up to ten’ players have been implicated.
It is alleged the incident, which Cleary reported as ‘inappropriate behaviour’, occurred at the Giants’ ‘Wacky Wednesday’ post-season event in a private room of a hotel, with players dressing up as celebrity couples and performing comedy skits, in the days following their heartbreaking semi-final loss to Brisbane.
While the Giants’ own internal investigation cleared the players of any illegal conduct, the league is taking a hardline stance against the alleged conduct.
It is unknown what exactly the offensive behaviour entailed, nor who leaked the information to the AFL.
With some players implicated overseas on holidays, the suspensions will not be finalised until all have returned to Australia and addressed the matter with Giants and AFL officials.
“Multiple Giants players are facing AFL bans in relation to inappropriate behaviour,” Cleary reported.
“It centres around distasteful costumes and skits from their post-season function at the end of the 2024 season. It’s understood the dress-ups theme was celebrity couples with activities related to that.
“It was a players-only event.
“A number of players have been given suspensions – the AFL are giving those players a chance to respond as part of negotiations. Other players will be hit with financial penalties.
“Some of those players are tonight overseas and just learning of this in the last few hours.
“It’s understood the club’s own internal probe has cleared the players of any illegal activity, but tonight this is in the hands of the AFL.
“The Giants are preparing to be without multiple players to start the 2025 season.”
GWS released a statement late on Tuesday, saying: “the Giants are aware of an anonymous allegation of inappropriate behaviour at the players’ end-of-season function last month.
“The club and its integrity unit have been working with the AFL’s integrity unit to investigate.”
A league statement confirmed an investigation was ‘in its final stages’.
“The AFL and GWS have been undertaking an investigation into the Giants players’ post-season event, which is in its final stages,” the statement reads.
“An update will be provided by the AFL once the investigation has concluded.”
The Giants have endured a turbulent start to their off-season after blowing two substantial leads in qualifying and semi final losses to Sydney and the Lions, both of whom won through to the 2024 grand final.
A host of players have left through the trade and free agency period, with Isaac Cumming (Adelaide), Harry Perryman (Collingwood) and Nick Haynes (Carlton) all departing, while a trade with the Crows for James Peatling is ongoing.
© AAP