GWS star Toby Greene is free to play in the Giants' AFL semi-final against Collingwood after the league confirmed his fly-kick marks are allowed under current guidelines.
Greene's controversial studs-up method of protecting his space in marking contests re-emerged on Saturday with incidents involving Aliir Aliir and Nic Newman during the Giants' thumping elimination final win over Sydney.
AFL match review officer Michael Christian on Monday cleared Greene over both incidents but handed him a $2500 misconduct fine for dropping his knee into the head of Sydney's Isaac Heeney.
Christian conceded Greene shouldn't have been paid a mark after catching Newman with an outstretched leg during the fourth quarter.
But he said the force used didn't warrant a sanction, while the incident involving Aliir didn't constitute a reportable offence "under current guidelines".
"It's important in the context of the marking contest that you're allowed to protect the space and protect yourself," Christian told reporters.
"In the situation with Nic Newman, while Toby was attempting to do that, he did that in a careless manner.
"So in terms of assessing the incident, the conduct was careless.
"But then it comes down to a question of impact and (I) didn't believe, taking into account the reaction from Newman, the fact he was able to play on, the visual look of the impact and also a medical report ... that there was enough impact."
Giants coach Leon Cameron on Saturday hinted he would speak to the firebrand forward about ensuring he didn't give away free kicks.
Greene was fined last year for collecting the Western Bulldogs' Luke Dahlhaus in the face with his outstretched leg in a similar fashion.
In that case, Greene was receiving a handball rather than taking a mark and Dahlhaus was forced off the ground under the blood rule.
Christian said AFL football boss Steve Hocking could look at further restricting such behaviour as part of rule changes to be implemented at the end of the season.
Giants forward Jeremy Cameron said he didn't think Greene's actions should prompt rule changes.
"I don't think so. He's protecting his space," Cameron said.
"Over the years, I'm sure you can wind back the tapes and have a look at players throughout their careers doing very similar things.
"Some do it better than others. I don't think I'd personally get the timing right if I were to try it."
Greene's teammate Jacob Hopper also copped a $2500 sanction for careless umpire contact, while Sydney's Zak Jones was fined $2000 for rough conduct on Callan Ward.
Christian assessed incidents involving West Coast star Elliot Yeo, Collingwood's Levi Greenwood and Giants forward Harry Himmelberg but found none had a case to answer.
Share
