An AFL legend believes Sydney’s boss is being “a little bit precious” after complaining about GWS’ latest viral social media stunt.
After the Swans posted footage of a candid Isaac Heeney following his unsuccessful contest at the AFL Appeals Board on Thursday, GWS later issued a satirical response that has since gained large-scale online traction and fuelled the teams’ budding rivalry.
Captain and star forward Toby Greene — who copped another in a long line of fines during the week — imitated the video of Heeney by apologising to fans for his actions in a seemingly heartfelt manner.
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At time of writing, the club’s post on X has over 4,500 likes, more than 400 comments — mostly seeing the funny side — while the video itself has a staggering 840,000 views.
But, while the humor behind the cheeky barb wasn’t lost on fans and the wider public, Swans chief executive Tom Harley, who spoke on SEN on Saturday, took exception.
“I did see the Giants’ (post). I’m not going to give it any air — pretty low-brow,” he told the radio network.
“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, 1,254-goal Hawthorn icon Jason Dunstall wasn’t buying what Harley was selling.
“Well, as we all know, I’m not a social media afficionado,” began Dunstall on Fox Footy’s post-match coverage on Saturday evening. “But I would suggest that Tom Harley’s being a little bit precious.
“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 ‘grow the game’ — well that, to me, is growing it, by building that rivalry.”
Dual premiership Kangaroo David King sided with Dunstall, poking fun at the Swans coach’s sense of humour.
“It shows, to me, that Tom Harley is spending too much time with John Longmire,” King laughed.
“It’s just a little bit of fun — we’re in the entertainment industry, let’s just laugh it off and move on.”
St Kilda great Leigh Montagna chimed in: “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.
“They’re allowed to do that, everyone take it in the context it was intended, it was a bit lighthearted.”
Dunstall concluded by suggesting the most effective way the Swans could shut the Giants up.
“It wasn’t offensive, it wasn’t disrespectful, there was no bad language — there was nothing wrong with it,” he said.
“Get over yourselves, Sydney. Just go back and win the flag — that’s the best answer.”
In recent times the Giants’ media department has made quips about Sydney’s ‘Bloods culture’, as well as its deep-seated South Melbourne bloodlines.
Ultimately, on the field, the ladder-leading Swans claimed both meetings between the clubs this year by an average margin of 28 points.