Greater Western Sydney coach Leon Cameron has staunchly defended the character of midfielder Toby Greene after the Giant appeared to spit in the direction of Richmond's Anthony Miles at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
Greene faced backlash on social media after the second-quarter incident, which was picked up by Fox Footy cameras.
It was one a handful of heated moments during the game which warmed up a cold Melbourne afternoon. In a match that Tigers coach Damien Hardwick agreed was sometimes spiteful, Richmond ruckman Ivan Maric was reported, with Tigers captain Trent Cotchin likely to also face scrutiny from the match review panel.
Neither Cameron or Hardwick claimed to have seen the spitting incident, and Cameron said he had not yet had the chance to ask Greene about what happened.
But Cameron nevertheless said he would be surprised if Greene meant to target Miles - who himself is a former Giant.
"I'd be very disappointed if it did happen in a threatening way, in a way that shouldn't happen," Cameron said.
"But I'm really confident that Toby wouldn't go down that track. He's a really good kid, he's come a long way, and we're rapt to have him at our footy club."
Cameron said that Greene and Miles were "close friends", making it even more unlikely that anything untoward was intended.
"I reckon Toby Greene's a terrific lad for our footy club and I'd be backing Toby Greene in any day of the week."
Maric's report for striking came as a result of a stray elbow to the neck of Giant Jack Steele during a ruck contest in the third quarter. Steele was sent thudding to the turf after going for the ball.
Cotchin is also set to be looked at by the review panel after a clumsy attempt to spoil Giant Zac Williams.
Cotchin arrived late to a contest in the first quarter, collecting Williams' face with a swinging arm. Williams marked the ball, but was slow to get to his feet, with the incident precipitating a melee.
The Giant was ultimately able to continue playing, and was awarded a 50-metre penalty from which he missed a shot at goal.
Having trailed at every chance, the Tigers charged home late to win by nine points.
Hardwick said his team "won ugly".
"GWS to their credit were outstanding in their endeavour, their attack on the ball."
"For the vast majority they probably outplayed us.
"We were probably just good enough to get over the line.
But he said there was a clear silver lining for his side, which has now won six of its last seven games.
"It's probably the sign of how we've improved. I would have thought probably 12 months ago, 18 months ago we lose that game," Hardwick said.
