New details have come to light surrounding multiple GWS Giants players being offered suspensions over an AFL probe due to alleged “inappropriate behaviour” at a post-season function.
The league has handed bans to multiple players but they will be given the chance to respond as part of negotiations, according to Seven’s Mitch Cleary, with others to be fined.
The incident took place at a post-season event with a dress-up theme of “celebrity couples”, and while the Giants’ own probe has cleared the players of any illegal activity, the league has come down hard on the as-yet-undisclosed incidents.
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Nine’s Tom Morris reported “up to 10” players are expected to be sanctioned over the Wacky Wednesday incident.
The Age reported “a handful” were expected to be banned over “highly inappropriate” skits which were held in a private room of a hotel, which was closed off to the public.
Coaches and staff were there for the early parts of the event but not during the offensive skits.
Morris provided fresh insights on the matter on Wednesday morning as new details emerge.
“It’s the belief of the Giants players that the story got out because the bartender at the pub made a complaint. They were in a private room,” he said on SEN radio.
“A couple of players did a skit from a movie, one player who is set to be fined quite significantly dressed up as Raygun. I can’t imagine that player being fined for dressing up as Raygun, but who knows what actions that player did.
“I understand there is going to be around six suspended players. One young player in particular, who is said to have made an ill-informed joke about P-Diddy, is set for the harshest suspension.
“The Giants found out about this a few weeks ago, some key players found out about it on prelim final weekend and in the last 48 hours the Giants have been shocked to learn that actual suspensions were on the cards.
“I’m told some of the players are pushing back on the suspensions, believing it’s a private room, nothing illegal occurred. The AFL and the Integrity Unit has had time to consider it, digest it and investigate it.
“Given that around six players are set to be suspended and fines of up to $20,000 are set to be handed out, you’d have to suggest there is more to this.
“I’m just telling you what I know.”
Morris confirmed James Peatling, who’s set to be traded to Adelaide, and Isaac Cumming, who’s already signed with the Crows, aren’t facing suspensions.
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“Multiple Giants players are facing AFL bans in relations to inappropriate behaviour,” Mitch Cleary reported on Tuesday evening.
“It centres around distasteful costumes and skits from their postseason function at the end of the 2024 season.
“It’s understood the dress-ups theme was celebrity couples with activities related to that.
“It was a players-only event, no victims were centred from the public. A number of players have been given suspensions, the AFL giving those players a chance to respond as part of negotiations. Other players will be hit with financial penalties.
“Some of those players are tonight overseas and just learning of this in the last few hours.
“It’s understood the club’s own internal probe has cleared the players of any illegal activity, but tonight this is in the hands of the AFL. The Giants preparing to be without multiple players to start the 2025 season.”
In a club statement, GWS said: “The Giants are aware of an anonymous allegation of inappropriate behaviour at the players’ end-of-season event last month.
“The club and its integrity unit have been working with the AFL’s integrity unit to investigate. The club will make no further comment until the outcomes of the investigation have been finalised.”
News Corp reported the Giants’ function took place in mid-September with several players spotted in the Sydney CBD area wearing fancy dress.
