GWS Giants Players Banned for Inappropriate Behavior at Post-Season Event, Distasteful Dress Ups, What Happened, Breaking News

New details have emerged about multiple GWS Giants players being handed suspensions following an AFL investigation over alleged “inappropriate conduct” during a post-season function.

The league has banned several players, but they will be given a chance to respond as part of negotiations, according to Seven’s Mitch Cleary, while others will be fined.

The incident occurred at a postseason event with a costume-themed “famous couples” event, and while the Giants’ own investigation has cleared the players of any illegal activity, the league has cracked down on the previously undisclosed incidents.

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Nine’s Tom Morris reported that up to ten players are expected to be sanctioned over the Wacky Wednesday incident.

The Age reported that “a handful” were expected to be banned due to “highly inappropriate” skits held in a private room of a hotel, which was closed to the public.

Coaches and staff were present during the early parts of the event, but not during the offensive skits.

Morris provided new insights into the matter Wednesday morning as new details emerged.

‘The Giants players are convinced that the story came out because the bartender at the pub made a complaint. They were in a private room,” he said on SEN radio.

“A few players have made a skit from a movie, a player who will be fined, dressed as Raygun. I can’t imagine that player getting fined for dressing up as Raygun, but who knows what actions that player performed.

“I understand there will be about six suspended players. One young player in particular, who allegedly made an ill-informed joke about P-Diddy, risks the harshest suspension.

“The Giants found out about this a few weeks ago, a number of key players found out during the last weekend of preseason and over the past 48 hours the Giants have been shocked to learn that actual suspensions were looming.

“I’ve been told that some players are having their bans reduced because they think it’s a private room and nothing illegal has happened. The AFL and the Integrity Unit have had time to think about it, process it and investigate it.

“Given that around six players will be suspended and fines of up to $20,000 handed out, you’d have to suggest there’s more to it.

“I’m only telling you what I know.”

Morris confirmed that James Peatling, who will be traded to Adelaide, and Isaac Cumming, who has already signed with the Crows, will not face bans.

“Multiple Giants players are facing AFL bans related to inappropriate conduct,” Mitch Cleary reported on Tuesday evening.

“It revolves around distasteful costumes and skits from their postseason feature at the end of the 2024 season.

“It is clear that the theme was celebrity couples, with related activities.

“It was a players only event, there were no casualties in the middle of the crowd. A number of players have been handed suspensions, with the AFL giving these players the opportunity to respond as part of negotiations. Other players will be hit with financial penalties.

“Some of those players are abroad tonight and have only heard about this in the last few hours.

“It is clear that the club’s internal investigation has cleared the players of any illegal activity, but tonight this is in the hands of the AFL. The Giants are preparing to begin the 2025 season without multiple players.”

In a club statement, GWS said: “The Giants are aware of an anonymous allegation of inappropriate behavior at the players’ end-of-season event last month.

“The club and its integrity unit have been working with the AFL integrity unit to investigate this. The club will have no further comment until the results of the investigation have been completed.”

News Corp reported that the Giants’ function took place in mid-September, with several players spotted in fancy dress in Sydney’s CBD area.