GWS Giants captain Toby Greene shares a shocking personal story from his career, admitting he punched his father unconscious in the team dressing room after an AFL match.

The Dressing Room Confrontation

Greene, 32, explains that his father’s excessive intoxication pushed him over the edge. ‘I knocked him out in the change rooms because he was drunk and carrying on,’ Greene states in the Amazon Prime documentary Final Siren: Inside the AFL. ‘He’s pretty loud and boisterous and he’s extremely drunk. And I was just embarrassed and just told him to f**k off and punched him.’

A Complicated Father-Son Bond

Despite the estrangement, Greene credits his father, Michael, for sparking his love of football. ‘Like, the reason I love footy is because of him,’ Greene reflects. ‘So, yeah, it’s hard. That’s what I’ll take with me, and then you learn your lessons from some things that he’s done that you can’t do.’

Michael Greene’s Troubled History

Michael Greene served nine months in jail after headbutting a female police officer and resisting arrest following the GWS Giants’ 2019 grand final loss to Richmond at the MCG. Intoxicated at the time, he was ejected from the stadium.

His record includes charges of assault, stalking, theft, and various driving offenses such as drink-driving and driving while disqualified. In 2004, a conviction for resisting arrest led to a community-based order and enrollment in a sex offenders program for stalking. Court documents suggest schizophrenia and long-term drug addiction.

Effects of Long-Term Substance Abuse

Greene attributes his father’s struggles to years of addiction. ‘Ten, 15 years [of] drinking alcohol and drugs [have] probably taken a fair toll on his body and brain,’ he says.

Greene’s On-Field Controversies

A standout since his 2012 AFL debut, Greene remains known for his hard-nosed play and occasional controversies. Last season, he drew criticism for calling Sydney’s Tom Papley ‘overweight’ during a half-time interview.

In the documentary, Greene also vows never to share a beer with Western Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli after a 2019 finals incident where he struck the player in the face and pulled his hair, resulting in a serious misconduct charge.

Family Faces Fan Abuse

Greene’s wife, Georgia, describes vicious online harassment from fans. ‘People are saying “I hope family members die” or “you should kill yourself”,’ she reveals. ‘Or I have a DM saying “you know, I saw him cheating with girls” and “has he bashed you up?”‘

Giants’ 2025 Campaign

Greene aims to guide the Giants higher in 2026 after they placed fifth last season but exited the finals in the first week against Hawthorn.