Greater Western Sydney are set to be without star forwards Toby Greene and Jesse Hogan for their tough assignment against the Brisbane Lions at Manuka Oval on Anzac Day after both were hit with a one-match suspension.
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The league's match review officer on Sunday charged Greene with rough conduct on Jordan Boyd, and Hogan with striking Lewis Young in separate incidents during the Giants' 19-point loss to Carlton on Saturday.
The sanctions compounded a horror outing for GWS, who led by 22 points during the second quarter at Marvel Stadium but were steamrolled by the Blues as their unbeaten start to the season went up in smoke.
Giants captain Greene, who has a long history of indiscretions, faces his first suspension in more than two years over his mid-air bump on Carlton defender Boyd.
Greene led at the ball and jumped for a mark but turned his body just before a collision and made contact with the head of Boyd, who was going back with the flight of the ball.
Boyd got up to take a free kick immediately and played out the match.
Greene's actions were graded as careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.
The Giants are yet to indicate whether they will challenge the charge but coach Adam Kingsley went in to bat for Greene in the immediate aftermath of Saturday's loss.
"There won't be anything in that," Kingsley told reporters post-match.
"He's allowed to contest the ball, isn't he? He's allowed to launch at the ball?
"And if you're running and launching at the ball, and you've got your eyes for the ball, and you're trying to take a chest mark, and you get knocked ... free kick against?
"It's hard being Toby."
If the punishment stands, it will be Greene's first suspension since he was hit with a six-match ban for making intentional contact with umpire Matt Stevic during the 2021 finals series.
The Greene-Boyd collision drew immediate comparisons to the one that led to Essendon's Peter Wright being handed a four-match ban.
But Wright caused far more damage to his opponent, Sydney's Harry Cunningham, who was concussed.
Hogan's left-handed blow to Blues defender Young's head during an off-the-ball scuffle in the goal square was graded intentional conduct, low impact and high contact.
The 29-year-old Giants spearhead has been in strong form this season, topping the Coleman Medal leaderboard with 21 goals from six games.
West Coast defender Tom Barrass copped a one-match ban for rough conduct in a tackle on Fremantle's Michael Walters that was graded careless conduct, medium impact and high contact.
Geelong pair Brandan Parfitt and Jeremy Cameron escaped with fines for striking Brisbane's Josh Dunkley and tripping Hugh McCluggage respectively.
Carlton's George Hewett and GWS midfielder Tom Green were fined for careless contact with umpires.
Australian Associated Press
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