Why football fans have a big problem with the GWS Giants’ Wacky Wednesday scandal

Footy fans have rallied around GWS Giants skipper Toby Greene after it was reported he will be handed a huge fine following the club’s Wacky Wednesday scandal – even though he was not directly involved in any of the attacking acts.

News broke on Tuesday that the AFL is investigating the team’s post-season party after an anonymous complaint was made about the behavior of several stars who themed their party outfits with ‘troubled couples’.

The event took place in a private room in a pub and had seen players from the team perform ‘distasteful skits’, reportedly involving the use of a blow-up doll and a shocking prank involving disgraced rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.

It is understood that up to six players allegedly involved in the skits face suspensions or fines.

Some members of the team are said to have dressed up as former NRL player Jarryd Hayne and Australian NBA star Josh Giddey at the event.

Hayne had a rape conviction quashed this year and Giddey has not been charged by police over allegations he had an inappropriate relationship with an underage girl.

It is said that other players dressed up as the World Trade Center towers.

Green, who dressed as Olympic break dancer Rachael “Raygun” Gunn but is not accused of involvement in the offensive costumes or skits, reportedly faces a $20,000 fine for lack of leadership at the event.

Footy fans have been left shocked by the decision to sanction Greene and have taken to social media to express their anger and disbelief.

Fans protest Toby Greene’s $20,000 fine over his club’s controversial end-of-season feature, even though he isn’t accused of doing anything offensive

Greene dressed up as Rachel ‘Raygun’ Gunn – but now stands to lose a small fortune for failing to show leadership at the ‘Wacky Wednesday’ party

‘How can you fine Toby Greene 20,000 for being captain and ‘not showing adequate leadership in the situation’. They’re grown men, ffs, they don’t need to be told how to behave,” one fan wrote on X.

“$20,000 and he didn’t even do anything! Gosh, I bet he wishes we were back in the good old days!’ wrote another.

“Why does anyone even care, especially the AFL, that Toby Greene dresses up as ‘RayGun’? She literally embarrassed Australia with what she did. If you don’t recognize that you are as deceptive as the AFL,” a third posted.

Another wrote: ‘The AFL missed the budget for 2024 Toby Greene fines this year, so they’re penalizing him $20,000 for… Checks notes… Dressing up as Raygun. A new low for the Toby Greene tax.

Footy fans were in disbelief as they reacted to Greene’s reported penalty on social media

Many, like this commenter, couldn’t understand why the Giants star is being fined despite not being charged with any offensive acts

One fan compared the response to Greene’s reported lack of leadership to Hawks star Jack Ginnivan (pictured) going unpunished for dressing up as serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer

On Thursday morning, Greene’s manager Paul Connors said the GWS skipper accepted he ‘needed to be better’ after news of the scandal broke.

“Toby accepts that he is the leader of the club and he needed to improve,” Connors said.

‘But besides, he was as interested in that crazy Monday as you would have been. He had lost a match in which he had a 44-point lead.

‘He was emotionally exhausted and couldn’t think about anything.

“So yes, Toby accepts that he could have done things better, but again, it is for others to discuss whether $20,000 is too much.”

After sharing captaincy duties with Stephen Coniglio and Josh Kelly in 2022, Greene was announced as the club’s sole captain by coach Adam Kingsley in 2023, having played for the club for 13 seasons.

Channel Nine’s Tom Morris has claimed that Josh Fahey, whose contract expired this season, is believed to be one of the players allegedly involved in the skits.

He added that Isaac Cumming and James Peatling would not have been involved.

Coaches and staff were supposed to have been in the room earlier in the evening, but left before the offensive skits took place.

As many as six GWS players are facing fines and suspensions over what happened during the post-season function. Daily Mail Australia is not alleging that any of the stars in the above photo were involved in any wrongdoing

The AFL and the club have launched an investigation into the matter, but the players have not been accused of any illegal activity

On Monday, Morris wrote about

‘A few players did a skit from a movie, one player who will be fined significantly dressed up as Rachael ‘Raygun’ Gunn.

“I can’t imagine that player getting a fine for dressing up as Raygun, but who knows what actions that player performed.”

American rapper Combs is currently in jail awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Morris added that the club learned of the scandal weeks ago, with some stars also finding out about it the weekend before the AFL Grand Final.

The GWS Giants released a statement on Wednesday, writing: ‘The Giants confirmed yesterday that the club is aware of allegations of inappropriate behavior during the players’ end-of-season event last month.

‘The club takes the matter very seriously and has acted quickly after receiving the concerns.

“All parties have cooperated fully with the AFL to ensure the allegations are fully investigated,” the statement said.

“Some of the allegations are distressing and completely contrary to the club’s values ​​and policies.”