GWS star Tom Green has been reprimanded by the AFL for slamming the league's ongoing crackdown on dangerous tackles.
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The AFL found Green had engaged in excessive or unfair criticism when he claimed the match review officer and the tribunal were a "disgrace" and were "ruining the game" in a Giants-produced podcast.
Green made his comments before the club had successfully overturned Toby Bedford's controversial three-match ban for a tackle on Richmond midfielder Tim Taranto.
The episode, published ahead of their 39-point win over Gold Coast in round 19, has since been deleted.
"The general uproar and consensus around the Toby Bedford decision is that it is a disgrace and I couldn't agree more," Green said on the In The Green Room podcast.
The midfielder then doubled down on his criticism, saying he has become hesitant to tackle.
"I just think you are ruining the game. I honestly think the Tribunal with decisions like that is ruining the game," the midfielder said.
"My feel is that they are protecting themselves from a lawsuit in 30 years with the concussion stuff, but it is not fair and it is ruining the game.
"It just doesn't make sense to me and I don't like the way this stuff is being adjudicated. I think the entire AFL and the consensus of the AFL-watching public is that it is a disgrace because that is what it is.
"I just don't know what I can and can't do, so I am not going to tackle anymore."
GWS football boss Jason McCartney admitted Green "missed the mark" with his comments but reinforced the club's support of the 23-year-old.
"First and foremost, Tom is an outstanding young man," McCartney told SEN on Thursday.
"He had nine minutes on this topic (on the podcast). Large portions of it, he articulated unbelievably very well, was very passionate.
"But in that nine minutes, there were three or four things that did cross the line and he was very remorseful, very apologetic.
"We still want people to find that balance and predominantly Tom does that really well but he missed the mark here. He gets the rapt over the knuckles.
"It's just a nice one to discuss internally with players and staff around 'Okay, get out there, sell the club, sell the game - you do need to be careful there's a couple of 'no go' zones'."
Green will not be further punished beyond a formal reprimand.
Australian Associated Press
