AFLW players including the captain of the Giants’ first grade women’s side have spoken out against the GWS men’s players sanctioned by the AFL for their controversial end of season party.
Thirteen players were handed penalties for the infamous Wacky Wednesday celebrations that featured offensive skits, with an anonymous source complaining to the AFL.
Following an AFL investigation fringe GWS player Josh Fahey (four game suspension) dressed as former NRL player Jarryd Hayne and Jake Riccardi (two match suspension) 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.
Harvey Thomas (two match suspension) dressed as a professional sportsman believed to be Josh Giddey and Joe Fonti (two match suspension) as a girl, acting inappropriately during their skit.
Connor Idun ($5000 fine) and Lachie Whitfield ($5000 fine) re-enacted a scene from the movie Django Unchained characterising slavery.
Toby McMullin (two match suspension) and Cooper Hamilton (two-match suspension) simulated the September 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centre.
Additionally, club leaders Toby Greene, Sam Taylor, Tom Green and Harry Perryman were fined $5,000 each for not displaying ‘appropriate levels of leadership’ in their failure to stop the acts continuing.
GWS Giants AFLW captain Rebecca Beeson released a statement on behalf of the women’s playing group on the sanctions handed down to the men’s team
Captain Toby Greene was one of 13 players sanctioned by the AFL over the club’s end of season Wacky Wednesday celebrations
It is also understood there was a skit involving American music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs who is being investigated for sex trafficking and assault.
The club has reported that it 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.
The AFL had previously paid tribute to women killed by domestic violence in May by holding a minute’s silence at the start of every game.
Now Giants’ AFLW captain Rebecca Beeson has issued a statement on behalf of the club’s women players.
‘It is important that we make it known that we are deeply hurt and angered when learning of the behaviour that occurred,’ Beeson 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.’
The sanctions have received severe backlash from supporters who have labelled the AFL ‘woke’ and are even calling for match boycotts in 2025.
But Richmond’s AFLW star Monique Conti said the AFL was correct in handing down the fines and suspensions.
‘You’re mature enough to know what’s right and what’s wrong at the end of the day,’ Conti told Nine’s AFLW Weekly podcast.
‘There is probably an expectation from everyone to know what is appropriate and what’s not appropriate.’
