The fallout from the Giants‘ cheeky swipe at Swans star Isaac Heeney’s bizarre video last week has continued, with reports that GWS skipper Toby Greene messaged the Sydney midfielder before the post went live.
Last week, the Swans posted a video of Heeney’s “heartfelt” apology to supporters after his attempt to overturn a one-match suspension at the AFL appeals board failed, ruling him out of Brownlow contention.
Large sections of the wider AFL community made fun of the video, including the Giants who posted a parody that featured Greene apologising to his fans after copping another fine to add to a long list of penalties.
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Sydney CEO Tom Harley took aim at the “low brow” comedy attempt and now there’s been another twist to the tale.
The Giants reportedly believe they got the Swans’ approval to post the video, via a text chain between Greene and Heeney.
“Before the Toby Greene video, he sent a text message to Isaac Heeney, which in the Giants’ eyes, gave him (Heeney) the heads up that something was coming (the video),” Nine’s chief football reporter Tom Morris said on Footy Classified on Monday night.
“Heeney responded with a thumbs up, which in the Giants’ eyes … was enough to suggest he got approval.”
However, Morris confirmed that Heeney’s response did not act as a go-ahead for the Giants.
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“The Sydney Swans didn’t approve anything, they just thought it might be a little cheeky something,” he said.
“They didn’t think it would be as damaging or as serious as it ended up being in the Swans’ eyes.
“There’s no doubt that even though Heeney and Greene are business partners – and they’ll be fine – there’s been a bit of tension over this incident.”
Said tension has already spread from the players to Swans CEO Harley and Giants footy boss Jimmy Bartel, who both held differing views on what the video’s intention was.
“I did see the Giants’ (post). I’m not going to give it any air — pretty low-brow,” Harley said on SEN radio on Saturday.
“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.
Toby Greene of the Giants in round six of the 2024 season. AFL Photos via Getty Images
“I wouldn’t have done it.”
Bartel responded to Harley’s discomfort on Sunday.
“We can all just relax. It’s a bit of fun, a bit of humour,” Bartel said on Nine’s Footy Furnace on Sunday night.
“Everyone can just relax, take a deep breath.
“It was a weird video from Isaac Heeney, it was a bit funny from Toby Greene. Let’s just chill.”
Isaac Heeney whacks Jimmy Webster off the ball. Nine
Now, Kane Cornes has also had his say on the incident.
“I thought it was hilarious,” Cornes said.
“That (Heeney) video may be be OK on Brownlow Medal night, if he had won it.”
Heeney will return from his one-match ban against the Lions at the Gabba in round 19.