AFL Players’ Association chief executive Paul Marsh has hit out at the AFL for its treatment of the GWS Giants players involved in their now infamous end-of-season celebrations antics.
Six players were handed match suspensions and six others have been fined for the roles they played in the ill-fated Wacky Wednesday party, where players dressed in wildly inappropriate and offensive costumes.
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In a lengthy and scathing statement released on the AFLPA website on Friday afternoon, Marsh acknowledged that the Giants players’ conduct was “unacceptable and raises important matters of respect, inclusion and safety”.
But he has questioned, among a number of things, the process — or lack thereof — the AFL undertook to hand out the sanctions.
“With respect to the proposed sanctions, we believed these were disproportionate, and again made without reference to any sanctioning framework,” the statement reads.
“We note the AFL revised some of the sanctions in response to ours and other submissions.
“We have serious concerns with the way the AFL has conducted their process around this issue. They sought to interview players without independent support, did not make relevant materials available to players as part of the interview process, and imposed unreasonable timeframes on players to respond to their proposed sanctions.
“This process lacked procedural fairness, and procedural fairness is critical to ensuring integrity and confidence in AFL processes.”
As part of the heavy penalties, Josh Fahey was given a four-game suspension, while Jake Riccardi, Joe Fonti, Toby McMullin, Harvey Thomas and Cooper Hamilton were all banned for two matches.
Captain Toby Greene, Sam Taylor, Lachie Whitfield, Connor Idun, Lachie Keeffe and new Collingwood player Harry Perryman were all fined $5000.
Marsh detailed strong thoughts on the problem as a systemic and broader one within the AFL industry which, he believes, lacks the support to fix it.
He conceded that it doesn’t excuse poor decisions made, in this case by a number of Giants players, but says more needs to be done at a macro level.
“The AFLPA provided a detailed submission to the AFL on this matter,” Marsh says.
“And whilst we acknowledged the appropriateness of sanctions for these players, we raised concerns with the AFL’s commitment to cultural change within the industry, the process undertaken by the AFL, the proportionality and consistency of their sanctioning, the lack of a sanctioning framework despite repeatedly raising this with the AFL, and an inconsistent approach to how player leaders have been dealt with as compared to the broader club leaders.
“As an industry, we have had too many cultural issues and we have not worked hard enough to set and role model the standards expected. This does not excuse individual choices and decisions but they are not made in a vacuum.
“For many years, the industry has walked past this type of behaviour and accepted it as a part of footy culture, and this is the culture that we all are now responsible for. We include players, clubs, the AFL and the AFLPA in this.
“For more than 12 months, the AFLPA has been trying to work with the AFL to establish a joint committee, as agreed in last year’s CBA, inclusive of players, experts and industry people to address these issues proactively and improve our industry.
“This is yet to happen and until we get serious about changing our culture, the industry will continue to send mixed messages that will let our fans, our players and our community down.
“Individual accountability is important but so is leadership that prioritises prevention, understanding and role modelling.”
Marsh finished by reiterating his frustration that, despite an agreement in the recently signed collective bargaining agreement (CBA), a formalised process for dealing with issues like these is yet to be constructed.
“The opportunity remains to develop a consistent sanctioning framework through a revised code of conduct that was also agreed as part of last year’s CBA. This work is still to be finalised,” Marsh said.
“The AFL industry has an opportunity to learn and improve from this and the various other issues we have dealt with in recent years.
“It will, however, take strong leadership, genuine collaboration across the industry, accountability, and ongoing reflection on our progress.”
Responding publicly to Marsh’s comments in a statement provided to 7NEWS on Friday night, a spokesperson for the AFL said: “Making light of any gender-based violence is not acceptable in any setting at any time.
“Both the club and the players have acknowledged that and owned the accountability.
“Respect is not an option, it is a non-negotiable and we will continue to work until everyone in our game understands that.”
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said some of the skits were “completely unacceptable” and totally at odds with the codes values.
He revealed the investigation found Fahey dressed up as ex-NRL player Jarryd Hayne, who spent time in jail before having rape charges dropped, and Riccardi went as a taxi driver.
“In the course of a skit, Fahey simulated inappropriate acts on a sex doll,” Dillon said.
“Riccardi was not involved in that part of the skit.
“Toby McMullin and Cooper Hamilton simulated the September 11 attack on the World Trade Centre in costume related to that event.
“Harvey Thomas dressed as a particular professional sportsman and Joe Fonti as a girl acting inappropriately during their skit.
“Connor Idun and Lachie Whitfield enacted a scene from the Django Unchained, characterising slavery.”
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Dillon also said the club will provide further education to the entire playing group.
“The behaviour and disrespect the players demonstrated at this event do not uphold any of the values of the AFL or the Giants and the behaviour is not acceptable in any setting at any time,” Dillon continued.
“There is nothing funny or clever about these actions and we are not as a code and competition prepared to accept these behaviours.
“We’re also very disappointed none of the leaders sanctioned sought to stop the behaviour.
“What transpired at the function is not acceptable – not to the other men, women or anyone who is part of the club. Not for all the people in our industry and not for the wider public.
“I want to apologise to the community and to everyone who shares our disappointment, my disappointment at this behaviour and to reinforce that respect is not an option, it is a non-negotiable and we will continue to work until everyone in our game understands that.”
Chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary, who broke the initial story on Tuesday night, revealed on Thursday night that nudity formed part of the lewd skits that are now being investigated by licensing authorities.
“We can reveal the incident has escalated beyond the AFL. The New South Wales gambling and liquor body is now investigating the Wacky Wednesday behaviour,” Cleary said.
“It took place at the Woolly Bay Hotel in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.”
Liquor and Gaming NSW told 7NEWS it is investigating the incident, but won’t make any further comment.
“It’s also understood that nudity formed part of the lewd skits,” Cleary said.
The theme of the party was ‘troubled couples’ and CCTV vision has been crucial to the investigation.
“There is absolutely no excuse for the behaviour that took place and we’re very distressed by some of the incidents that occurred,” Giants CEO David Matthews said.
Giants captain Greene released a statement saying he was embarrassed by his actions.
“Firstly, I would like to apologise for the events that occurred. As a leader of the club and captain of the team, I am embarrassed that we are in this situation and that I failed to uphold my responsibilities as a leader to prevent it. I am disappointed I did not adequately process the situation, and intervene, in the moment,” he said.
“Some of the costumes and skits that took place are unbecoming and contrary to the values of our club and standards we expect of the playing group. I understand that as leaders we need to learn from this situation and ensure it never happens again.”
AFLW captain Rebecca Beeson said they will “deeply hurt” by the actions.
“It is important that we make it known that we were deeply hurt and angered when learning of the behaviour that occurred,” she said.
“Playing the game we love gives us a platform to speak to the community, fans and young people. As the AFLW playing group, we feel it is of great importance to stress that the behaviour that included references to gender-based violence is completely unacceptable under any circumstances.
“The values of respect, diversity and inclusion are as important off the field as they are on it. We look forward to the AFL playing group learning from this incident and as a club, we are united in ensuring everyone feels safe within our game.”
– With Ben Sutton