Adam Kingsley has leant on the “Toby tax” sentiment in defending Toby Greene as the GWS captain faces scrutiny over high contact on Carlton’s Jordan Boyd.
Greene collided with Boyd in a final-quarter marking contest as the Giants’ winning start to the AFL season came to a screeching halt in a 19-point defeat to Carlton at Marvel Stadium on Saturday.
Greene was leading for the ball and jumped for a mark, turning his body at the last second before crashing into Boyd, who was running back with the flight.
Boyd was hit in the head and awarded a free kick, but got up and seemingly had no ill-effects from the contact.
But the Giants now face a nervous wait to learn if Greene and fellow forward Jesse Hogan will be available for their next assignment, against the Brisbane Lions in Canberra on Anzac Day.
Hogan faces scrutiny over a left-handed blow to Blues defender Lewis Young’s face during a scuffle in the goal square during the final quarter.
Greene has a long history of run-ins with the AFL match review officer and tribunal, but GWS coach Kingsley was adamant the 221-game star does not deserve sanction over the latest incident.
“There won’t be anything in that,” Kingsley said after the Giants’ 17.15 (117) to 15.8 (98) defeat.
“He’s allowed to contest the ball, isn’t he? He’s allowed to launch at the ball?
“And if you’re running and launching at the ball, and you’ve got your eyes for the ball, and you’re trying to take a chest mark, and you get knocked … free kick against?
“It’s hard being Toby.”
The Greene-Boyd collision drew immediate comparisons to the one that led to Essendon’s Peter Wright being handed a four-match ban.
Wright caused far more damage to his opponent, Sydney’s Harry Cunningham, who was concussed.
Kingsley was blunt when asked if it is hard for players leading at the ball.
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“No, just Toby,” he said.
Carlton coach Michael Voss was on the bench near the Greene-Boyd collision, but said he had not seen a replay.
Voss heaped praise Boyd for a strong defensive performance after he shifted on to Greene and kept him scoreless from four touches in the second half.
“That was a really important role for us,” the coach said.
“Greene’s a wonderful player, a very dangerous player … and Boydy did a great job.”