AFL legend Jason Dunstall has poked fun at Sydney Swans chief executive Tom Harley, stating the footy boss acted “a little bit precious” after taking offence to a social media stunt from crosstown rival the GWS Giants.
This week, the Swans posted a video of star midfielder Isaac Heeney’s “heartfelt” apology to supporters after his attempt to overturn his one-match suspension at the AFL appeals board was unsuccessful.
Making light of the video, the Giants uploaded a parody video that featured Toby Greene apologising to fans after copping another fine to add to a long list of penalties.
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The Giants’ video exploded online but the humour behind the taunt was seemingly lost on Harley.
Speaking to SEN on Saturday, Harley took umbrage at Greene’s impersonation of Heeney.
“I did see the Giants’ [post]. I’m not going to give it any air — pretty low-brow,” he said.
“Isaac is a champion of our club and a champion of the game, and talk about growing the game — a bloke from Newcastle brought up on rugby league.
“I wouldn’t have done it.”
However, Hawthorn champion Dunstall did not buy into the sob story.
“Well, as we all know, I’m not a social media aficionado but I would suggest that Tom Harley’s being a little bit precious,” he told on Fox Footy on Saturday night.
Jason Dunstall gave his thoughts on Tom Harley’s response to GWS’ satirical video. Getty images
“That, to me, seemed quite humorous, and just taking the mickey. We know there’s a hell of a lot worse on social media than just a little bit of fun and games like that.
“I think it’s great that the two teams are poking fun at each other; it builds up this rivalry that increases the game.
“Tom Harley said something about ‘growing the game’ — well that, to me, is growing it by building that rivalry.”
North Melbourne great David King agreed with Dunstall, making fun of the Swans’ deadpan sense of humour.
“It shows, to me, that Tom Harley is spending too much time with John Longmire,” he said
“It’s just a little bit of fun — we’re in the entertainment industry. Let’s just laugh it off and move on.”
GWS’ social media accounts are some of the most followed in the league and have built a reputation for using cultural references to ridicule both themselves and the rest of the competition.
“It has been the Giants’ shtick all year, they do the social media — out of any team in the competition — they do it the best,” St Kilda great Leigh Montagna added.
“They’re allowed to do that, everyone takes it in the context it was intended, it was a bit lighthearted.”