GWS captain Toby Greene has been handed a $3125 fine for striking Carlton's Nic Newman in the final quarter of the Blues' victory over the Giants on Saturday evening.
The latest victim of the AFL's crackdown on off-the-ball incidents, Greene can see his sanction reduced to a fine in the amount of $1875 with an early plea.
Given the crackdown communicated in the pre-season, and the watertight precedent set by prior test cases tried between that memo and Greene's infraction, it would be a surprise to see Greene opt against the early plea offered.
The sanction, regardless of an early plea, will see the total amount forked out by Greene across the span of his career finally exceed the $50,000 mark, joining Port Adelaide firebrand Zak Butters as the only two men to surpass the "milestone".
It is the 32nd sanction handed to the GWS champion in his 275 games at the level. He has missed 16 matches through suspension, and been fined $50,725, should the plea be taken.
Incidents like these are part of the package with Toby, and something worth considering for the clubs currently clambering for his services as a departure from Sydney's west becomes a distinct and viable possibility for the first time in the passionate clubman's storied career.
