Perennially embattled Giant Toby Greene has failed in his attempts to cap his suspension for making contact with umpire Matt Stevic to three-games.
Following a marathon hearing that commenced on Thursday morning, it was announced that the 28-year-old's ban had been extended to six-weeks following the AFL's decision to challenge the initial length of the suspension.
The deliberations have arisen following Green's decision to make forceful contact with umpire Matt Stevic during GWS' one-point elimination final over Sydney in late August.
The dynamic, yet enigmatic, Greene was then banished to the stands for the Giants' semi-final loss to the Cats in what was originally slated for the first of a trio of weeks on the sidelines.
But following these latest revelations, Greene must now wait until Round 6 of next season before he can pull on the boots again.
Throughout the lengthy deliberations, the contact made on Stevic by Greene was referred to as a "bar room" act by the league's counsel Jeff Gleeson.
The Queen's Counsel also claimed that the act was both undertaken whilst "angry and aggressive" and required "serious consequence".
Gleeson also stated unequivocally that the initial sentence was โmanifestly inadequateโ in nature.
Whilst also making a case in direct opposition to Gleeson's, Greene admitted that he was at fault when colliding with Stevic following the three-quarter time siren in Launceston.
โI do apologise for making contact and itโs certainly something I wasnโt trying to do,โ Greene was quoted by Fox Sports.
โI agree itโs not a great look for the game and I do apologise.โ
Gleeson was also said to have argued that the Giant's lack of initial remorse or guilty plea should have seen the opening ban handed down in September extend well beyond a month in length.
In opposition, Ben Ihle QC stated on behalf of Greene that the onus was on the league to prove that said penalty was insufficient.
Though admitting that Greene's actions had been aggressive in nature, Ihle argued that the contact between Stevic and the forward's shoulders only arose when the latter was seeking to punctuate a point ahead of the final term.
Following time for deliberation, Greene's ban was extended in length just after 2pm AEST.
Although disappointed, GWS' general manager Jason McCartney claimed that after being drawn out, the matter was now over and the the club, and Greene, would turn their eyes to the future.
โAs we said at the time, as a club we maintain that umpires are sacrosanct. We understand the important role they play in our game and they are to be respected at all times," McCartney was quoted byย The Herald Sun.
โToby apologised for his actions. He is remorseful for the incident that occurred and understands the responsibility he has to umpires specifically, and the game more broadly.
โWe accept the suspension and consider the matter finalised.โ
Given that the 2022 fixture is yet to be completed and released, it is not yet known which opponents Leon Cameron's side will face during Greene's five-week absence.
This latest report and sentence now brings the perennially misbehaving forward's tribunal record to 22 charges for seven bans.
The Victorian has also been made to pay $29,350 in fines across his decade long career in an orange guernsey.
