Stop, Hammer Time: AFL Tribunal Says ‘U Can’t Touch This’ to Toby Greene over Umpire Incident

The disciplinary decisions of the AFL Match Review Panel and its higher-level Tribunal are often the source of much controversy. Recent issues footy fans have crazed over have been the interpretation of the new ‘dangerous tackle’ rules and the metrics for grading the severity of a ‘bump’ to the head. However, the most recent on-field disciplinary drama is one that does not relate to player protection or simply ensuring the game is played in fairness. 

On Tuesday, Toby Greene of the Greater Western Sydney Giants was issued with a three-match ban for what the Tribunal determined was an ‘aggressive, demonstrative and disrespectful’ interaction with experienced umpire Matt Stevic, during three-quarter time of the Giants' one-point win over the Sydney Swans in Saturday's elimination final in Launceston. Greene’s shoulder and arm made contact with umpire Stevic while they were having an animated discussion regarding an umpiring decision made against the Giants just minutes prior to the conclusion of the third term. The sanction, issued by a ‘jury’ of former AFL/VFL players in the AFL’s Tribunal, has an enormous impact upon the Giants’ 2021 Finals chances, given that Greene is crucial to the team’s success as arguably their most influential player. 

The decision has been met with polarising views within the AFL community. Some have agreed with Greene’s Tribunal argument, put forth by Ben Ihle QC, that the contact was simply careless rather than intentional. Such a view has been complimented with the thought that Greene, being branded as the AFL’s current ‘bad boy’, has suffered from unfavourably different treatment by the AFL’s disciplinary decision-makers, described colloquially as the ‘Toby Tax’. Others however have agreed with the argument held by Jeff Gleeson QC and the AFL that Greene’s conduct was ‘insolent and contemptuous’. 

The AFL rules declare that ‘contact with an umpire that is aggressive, forceful, demonstrative or disrespectful will be deemed intentional’.

Of particular interest to the AFL world and keen sports followers has been the subsequent discussion around how players must interact with umpires. In his statements to the AFL Tribunal, Jeff Gleeson QC discussed that ‘umpires are untouchable’. He continued, saying ‘[i]t's fundamental to our game … that the umpire is respected. The moment any of us deviate from enforcing that rule, because it's hard, is the moment we change the game and the way our umpires are treated.’

The AFL Umpires Association has echoed the AFL’s concerns. Their official statement on the Greene incident explains that ‘[s]ending a clear message that it is not acceptable to disrespect the umpire’s role in the conduct of the game is critical to providing a safe environment for both players and Umpires alike, particularly at the grassroots level’.

The Umpires Association statement raises an important consideration. The stakes surrounding this decision may go beyond simply the AFL, the Giants and Greene. Community-level Aussie rules is suffering from an umpire shortage. Many Australian sports are also experiencing the same effect. As supply is not meeting demand, the few registered umpires at community-level are being asked to assist with multiple games every weekend. 

While umpire registration has certainly been impacted by COVID-19, the job is not exactly a lucrative one. All Aussie rules fans will have witnessed or participated in some form of over-the-fence umpire abuse at games. Perhaps many who have been interested in umpiring their local league have decided against doing so as they also prefer not to be criticised, threatened and physically confronted. 

While the sanction relating to the Greene incident is arguable, what is not is that the AFL must do whatever they can to promote umpire involvement at all levels. Umpire safety and comfortability must be at the forefront of the discussion. 

This is exactly what is on the AFL’s agenda, as it has declared that it will appeal the decision reached by the Tribunal for being too lenient in sanction. 

The appeal will be held come the conclusion of the 2021 Finals Series and may see Greene miss further games into the 2022 AFL Home and Away season.

If you are interested to know more detail about the Greene decision, you can watch the incident and statements made in the Tribunal hearing here: <https://www.afl.com.au/news/673109/tribunal-recap-after-four-huge-hours-greene-case-is-closed>.