Toby Greene

Toby Greene (born 25 September 1993) is a professional Australian rules footballer and the captain of the Greater Western Sydney Giants in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was recruited by the Greater Western Sydney Giants with the 11th overall selection in the 2011 national draft.

In 2016, he was selected in the All-Australian team as the half-forward flank; in the same year, he won the Kevin Sheedy Medal as the club's best and fairest.

Greene was named co-captain of the Giants ahead of the 2022 AFL season, before assuming solo captaincy in 2023.

AFL career
Greene grew up in Ashburton and attended Wesley College in Glen Waverley. He was recruited by with the 11th overall selection in the 2011 national draft. He played junior football for Ashburton Redbacks alongside future AFL stars Tom Mitchell and Jack Viney.

Greene played in the Greater Western Sydney's first season in 2012, debuting in round one against. A prolific ball-winner, he won the Giants' best first year player award in 2012 and was the runner-up in the Kevin Sheedy Medal as the club's best and fairest. He was nominated for the AFL Rising Star in 2012 award but was ineligible to win it due to being found guilty for a bumping offence earlier in the season.

In 2017, Greene won the Giants' leading goalkicker award with 45 goals for the season. He came equal first with teammates Jonathan Patton and Jeremy Cameron.

On 17 September 2019, Greene had his one-match suspension upheld by the AFL Tribunal for making contact with the eyes of Lachie Neale, making Greene unavailable for Greater Western Sydney's Preliminary Final match against Collingwood.

Greene was able to continue with good form in the 2020 AFL season and enhanced his reputation as a match-winner. Greene was critical in the Giants' wins over eventual grand finalists Geelong and Richmond with four- and five-goal hauls, respectively, in victories. The dynamic forward missed four games due to knee and hamstring issues, but he still polled 12 Brownlow Medal votes—comfortably the most at the club.

In the 2022 AFL season, Greene came back from his suspension with 37 goals for the season, with a season-high tally of 7 goals in Round 14 against the Western Bulldogs. On 30 August 2023, Greene was selected as the captain in the 2023 All-Australian team.

Discipline
During Greene's playing career, he has received a total of 22 AFL Tribunal charges or match review panel citations, six suspensions, and nearly $30,000 in fines. Greene stated in 2017 that he has been unable to contain his rage in certain situations, gaining a reputation for being one of the dirtiest players in the AFL.

During a one-point victory in the second elimination final of 2021, Greene was reported for making intentional contact with umpire Matt Stevic and was subsequently suspended for three weeks. With the Giants deciding not to appeal the suspension, Greene was out of the remainder of the 2021 AFL finals series. Nevertheless, former umpire Shane McInerney—who retired in 2019 after umpiring a record 500 games, including 26 finals—believes Greene was "lucky" to get away with a three-match suspension. On 1 September 2021, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said he was considering appealing Greene's three-match ban in an attempt to suspend Greene for more matches, saying he found the tribunal decision "perplexing". On 7 October 2021, the AFL Appeals Board increased the penalty to a six-game suspension.

Assault charge
On 13 May 2014, Greene was charged with a number of offences, including assault with a dangerous weapon and intentionally causing serious injury, over an alleged assault at a Melbourne licensed venue the previous night. He faced court on 9 December 2014 on a charge of unlawful assault and was fined $2,500 but escaped conviction.

Statistics

 * Statistics are correct to the end of 2023

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2012 ! colspan=3 | Career ! 215 !! 331 !! 214 !! 2627 !! 1845 !! 4472 !! 1012 !! 585 !! 1.5 !! 1.0 !! 12.2 !! 8.6 !! 20.8 !! 4.7 !! 2.7 !! 52
 * - style="background:#eaeaea;"
 * style="text-align:center;" style="white-space: nowrap;||| 35
 * 19 || 8 || 10 || 273 || 266 || 539 || 73 || 63 || 0.4 || 0.5 || 14.4 || 14.0 || 28.4 || 3.8 || 3.3 || 4
 * scope=row | 2013 || || 4
 * 19 || 4 || 5 || 226 || 208 || 434 || 69 || 42 || 0.2 || 0.3 || 11.9 || 11.0 || 22.8 || 3.6 || 2.2 || 0
 * - style=background:#EAEAEA
 * scope=row | 2014 || || 4
 * 15 || 7 || 2 || 197 || 225 || 422 || 81 || 62 || 0.5 || 0.1 || 13.1 || 15.0 || 28.1 || 5.4 || 4.1 || 3
 * scope=row | 2015 || || 4
 * 22 || 15 || 12 || 239 || 263 || 502 || 107 || 69 || 0.7 || 0.6 || 10.9 || 12.0 || 22.8 || 4.9 || 3.1 || 3
 * - style=background:#EAEAEA
 * scope=row | 2016 || || 4
 * 23 || 44 || 27 || 285 || 204 || 489 || 112 || 84 || 1.9 || 1.2 || 12.4 || 8.9 || 21.3 || 4.9 || 3.7 || 6
 * scope=row | 2017 || || 4
 * 19 || 45 || 28 || 227 || 119 || 346 || 110 || 53|| 2.4 || 1.5 || 12.0 || 6.3 || 18.2 || 5.8 || 2.8 || 8
 * - style=background:#EAEAEA
 * scope=row | 2018 || || 4
 * 9 || 16 || 10 || 96 || 46 || 142 || 42 || 8 || 1.8 || 1.1 || 10.7 || 5.1 || 15.8 || 4.7 || 0.9 || 1
 * scope=row | 2019 || || 4
 * 19 || 27 || 14 || 283 || 161 || 444 || 104 || 64 || 1.4 || 0.7 || 14.9 || 8.5 || 23.4 || 5.5 || 3.4 || 6
 * - style=background:#EAEAEA
 * scope=row | 2020 || || 4
 * 13 || 17 || 11 || 122 || 84 || 206 || 52 || 19 || 1.3 || 0.9 || 9.4 || 6.5 || 15.9 || 4.0 || 1.5 || 12
 * scope=row | 2021 || || 4
 * 18 || 45 || bgcolor=CAE1FF | 41† || 232 || 77 || 309 || 78 || 39 || 2.5 || bgcolor=CAE1FF | 2.3† || 12.9 || 4.3 || 17.2 || 4.3 || 2.2 || 6
 * - style=background:#EAEAEA
 * scope=row | 2022 || || 4
 * 15 || 37 || 19 || 160 || 55 || 215 || 78 || 22 || 2.5 || 1.3 || 10.7 || 3.7 || 14.3 || 5.2 || 1.5 || 3
 * scope=row | 2023 || || 4
 * 24 || 66 || 35 || 289 || 137 || 426 || 106 || 60 || 2.8 || 1.5 || 12.0 || 5.7 || 17.8 || 4.4 || 2.5 || 20
 * - class=sortbottom
 * scope=row | 2022 || || 4
 * 15 || 37 || 19 || 160 || 55 || 215 || 78 || 22 || 2.5 || 1.3 || 10.7 || 3.7 || 14.3 || 5.2 || 1.5 || 3
 * scope=row | 2023 || || 4
 * 24 || 66 || 35 || 289 || 137 || 426 || 106 || 60 || 2.8 || 1.5 || 12.0 || 5.7 || 17.8 || 4.4 || 2.5 || 20
 * - class=sortbottom
 * - class=sortbottom
 * }

Notes

Honours and achievements

 * All-Australian team: 2016, 2021, 2023 (c)
 * AFL Rising Star nominee: 2012
 * Kevin Sheedy Medal: 2016, 2023
 * GWS leading goalkicker: 2017, 2021, 2022, 2023
 * Greater Western Sydney Giants inaugural team
 * Greater Western Sydney Giants Rising Star: 2012
 * Greater Western Sydney Giants Members Choice Award: 2012
 * Greater Western Sydney Giants Leading Disposal Getter: 2012
 * Greater Western Sydney Giants Mark of the Year: 2017
 * Greater Western Sydney Giants Life Member