THE NIGHT out that led to Greater Western Sydney's Toby Greene being charged as part of an alleged assault came just days after the club's players were addressed by one of Sydney's top cops.
Greene, who has been suspended by the Giants for five weeks, has been charged with a string of offences following an alleged assault at a licenced premise in Caulfield on Monday night.
Just last week he was addressed alongside teammates by superintendent Mark Wright about how to best handle a four-day break from the club as part of their round-nine bye.
"When we bring these guys in – whether it's superintendent Mark Wright, whether it’s the AFL Players Association educating our players – the messages are ‘what are you doing off field’?" coach Leon Cameron said on Friday.
"We have a responsibility as AFL players, as professional sportspeople, that not only are we there to perform on the field, we're there to perform off the field as well.
"We're into our third year in the competition and we want to really let everyone know that we have really strong values and behaviours and everyone has to adhere to that, regardless of who you are."
Cameron said Greene's spot on the GWS list was never in jeopardy and the club had a responsibility to the 20-year-old, who addressed his teammates on Friday morning.
Co-captain Callan Ward said the leadership group had met on Thursday night with the club’s board and Cameron, making the tough decision to ban Greene from all football until round 14.
"We're going to help him move on … he's going to come back and train for five weeks, train really hard and earn his spot," Ward said.
"We've got some strong protocols and strong rules here.
"He drank when he shouldn't have – he was injured – and he didn't contact the club when he was in trouble.
"He's put his hand up to the group. He's extremely upset."
Cameron, who addressed the media alongside Ward and co-captain Phil Davis on Friday, said he hoped the Giants' stance sent a strong message about the culture being instilled at GWS.
Meanwhile, Davis said he was "biding his time" after a serious injury to his kidney landed him in intensive care in March.
The 23-year-old is able to do everything except contact work at training but said he felt like he was just starting his pre-season.
"I see a specialist next week and have another scan in four or five weeks," he said.
"From that we'll discuss what the path is from there.
"I definitely want to play this year. That's my goal, however my health comes first.
