Giants boss threatens to quit AFL club

GWS chairman Tony Shepherd has threatened to quit after repeated complaints from rivals about the Giants access to young AFL players in the Riverina.

Greater Western Sydney Giants chairman Tony Shepherd

GWS chairman Tony Shepherd has threatened to quit over a feud with Melbourne AFL clubs. (AAP)

GWS chairman Tony Shepherd has threatened to quit over the feud with Melbourne AFL clubs hung up about the club's academy system.

The Giants have earned the ire of Melbourne clubs this season for their preferential draft treatment and ease of access to young stars who hail from NSW's Riverina region.

Shepherd has had enough.

"Absolutely," he told 3AW radio when asked if he would consider quitting over the issue.

"I can't stand this constant changing of the rules. It just drives me nuts. We have to apologise every time we win a bloody game. I've had enough.

"Wagga is suddenly going to move south of the border to bloody Victoria. The last time I checked, the Murray River was the borderline.

"If you didn't want the expansion, then why'd you go ahead and do it?"

The Giants have priority access to players who come through the Riverina system at the AFL draft, even if they attend Melbourne boarding schools through their teenage years.

The club were also given early and additional draft picks in their initial seasons, while they still have extra salary cap allowance until 2019.


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Source: AAP



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