AFL players are on notice for what happens at end-of-season team functions after the league hit GWS Giants with a raft of suspensions and fines on Thursday night.
The AFL has banned Giants player Josh Fahey for four matches and forward Jake Riccardi is among teammates who will miss the first two games of next season. The sanctions are among bans and fines handed down by the league after a joint investigation with the Giants into a players’ post-season party last month.
Joe Fonti, Toby McMullin, Harvey Thomas and Cooper Hamilton were also banned for two matches. The players were all suspended for taking part in skits relating to the “controversial couples” theme of the dress-up function, with Fahey simulating inappropriate acts on a sex doll.
Captain Toby Greene and fellow senior players Lachie Whitfield, Connor Idun, Tom Green, Sam Taylor and Lachie Keeffe were fined $5,000 each for not displaying “appropriate levels of leadership” in their failure to stop the acts continuing. Harry Perryman, who has since joined Collingwood, has also been fined $5,000.
In announcing the penalties late on Thursday, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said the players involved had made “terrible choices”. Dillon confirmed an anonymous complaint was made to the AFL integrity portal the day after the 18 September event, and that there was CCTV footage of the function which had been “helpful” to the investigation.
“What went on at the venue was completely unacceptable ... I’m really disappointed,” Dillon said.
Fahey played seven senior games for GWS last year and none this year for the Giants. Riccardi, a key forward, has played 69 games and is the most experienced of the suspended players.
The AFL said in a statement that: “Josh Fahey dressed as a former NRL player and Riccardi as a taxi driver. In the course of the skit, Fahey simulated inappropriate acts on a sex doll. Riccardi was not involved in that part of the skit.”
McMullin and Hamilton simulated the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre in costume related to that event, while Thomas dressed as a particular professional sportsman and Fonti as a girl as they acted inappropriately during their skit, according to the AFL.
The sanctioned players had until Thursday morning to reply to the AFL, who punished them under the league’s conduct unbecoming rule.
“As part of this theme players dressed up in themed pairs and many performed skits connected to their costumes,” the league said in a statement. “In the view of the AFL and the club, some of the skits were completely unacceptable and totally at odds with the code’s values.”
In a club statement, Greene apologised and said he was “embarrassed”, adding: “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.”
Giants AFLW captain Bec Beeson was scathing in her comments. “We were deeply hurt and angered when learning of the behaviour that occurred,” she said. “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.”
Giants chief executive Dave Matthews said there was “no excuse” for the players’ behaviour and steps will be taken to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
GWS will provide further education for the entire playing group, in addition to the already mandatory education sessions in relation to violence against women, and racial and religious vilification.
• Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues is available from the following organisations. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In the US, Rainn offers support on 800-656-4673. Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
