The AFL has reportedly launched an investigation into the behaviour of multiple GWS Giants players at their end-of-season party.
According toย 7News journalist Mitch Cleary, the AFL is investigating allegations of player misconduct and is considering banning multiple players from the Giants for the start of the 2025 AFL season.
It is understood that it centres around the players dressing up in "distasteful costumes" and that no players were involved in any illegal conduct.
This comes as their end-of-season party involved dressing up as a celebrity couple.
At this stage, the Giants will likely be without several players for the start of next season.
"Multiple Giants players are facing AFL bans concerning inappropriate behaviour,ย journalist Mitch Cleary said on 7News.
"It centres around distasteful costumes and skits from their postseason function at the end of the 2024 season.
"It's understood the dress-up theme was celebrity couples with activities related to that."
In a statement obtained byย News Corp, the Giants confirmed they had been working with the AFL to address the issue.
"The Giants are aware of an anonymous allegation of inappropriate behaviour at the players' end-of-season event last month," the statement said.
"The club and its integrity unit have been working with the AFL's integrity unit to investigate. The club will make no further comment until the outcomes of the investigation have been finalised."
GWS player Josh Fahey is facing the most serious suspension for his role in the Wacky Wednesday skits.
While the AFL has presented a ban understood to be as long as six games, GWS believes his behaviour - which it concedes was disgusting - warrants a financial sanction.
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— Tom Morris (@tommorris32) October 16, 2024
New information released by Channel 9's Tom Morris indicated certain "skits" performed by the players were deemed inappropriate.
"It's the belief of the Giants players that the story got out because the bartender at the pub made a complaint. They were in a private room," Morris said on SEN Breakfast.
"A couple of players did a skit from a movie, one player who is set to be fined quite significantly dressed up as Raygun. I can't imagine that player being fined for dressing up as Raygun, but who knows what actions that player did.
"I understand there is going to be around six suspended players. One young player in particular, who is said to have made an ill-informed joke about P-Diddy, is set for the harshest suspension."
Morris added that Adelaide recruits (or soon-to-be) Isaac Cumming and James Peatling will avoid suspension while "some players are pushing back on the suspensions".
Captain Toby Greene has reportedly faced a heavy financial sanction of $20,000 for displaying lacklustre leadership by not intervening during the inappropriate skits. It was reported that the skipper was the one in the RayGun get-up, though no penalty has been attributed for that dress-up specifically.
Youngster Josh Fahey has been named as one of the six players involved in the skits. He will potentially receive the largest suspension.
GWS have released a club statement in response to the allegations, claiming a "level of misinformation" being shared through the media circles.
"The GIANTS confirmed yesterday the club is aware of allegations of inappropriate behaviour at the players' end-of-season event last month," the statement read.
"The club is taking the matter very seriously and acted swiftly upon the receipt of the concerns. All parties have co-operated fully with the AFL to ensure the allegations are fully investigated.
"Some of the allegations are distressing and entirely contrary to the club's values and policies. There is also a level of misinformation and rumour being circulated which is entirely inappropriate, particularly while the investigation is ongoing. The club will comment further once the outcomes of the investigation are finalised."
