Toby Greene confirms he wants to leave GWS Giants, keen to link up with Geelong Cats

Toby Greene — an inaugural Giants player, current GWS captain and the club’s greatest ever player — has made a call on his AFL future, opting to return to Victoria for family reasons.

Giants chief executive Dave Matthews on SEN’s Whateley on Thursday morning confirmed Greene would exercise his free agency rights next month.

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In a separate statement, the Giants said Greene was keen to link up with Geelong — the club which close friend and ex-Giant Jeremy Cameron plays for.

“The Giants have been advised by Toby Greene of his intention to move back to Victoria for family reasons with a view to join the Geelong Football Club,” a club statement read.

“The club will make no further comment at this stage and will work with Toby and his manager regarding his availability to media.”

It means Greene will depart after 15 seasons at the Giants, who drafted the Oakleigh Chargers product with Pick 11 in the 2011 draft.

A triple All-Australian and dual best and fairest winner, Greene has kicked 450 goals from a club-record 282 games for the Giants.

Speaking on SEN on Thursday morning, Matthews — who’ll also leave the club in the coming months — confirmed the news after receiving a phone call from Greene.

“We’ve been working together since the day of the draft in November 2011. It’s been a long journey,” Matthews told SEN’s Whateley.

“We talked about where the club has got to and the regret we’ve got about not securing a premiership.

“He’s been an enormous figure for our club and done everything possible, not just for the Giants, but for the AFL as well to grow this club and our presence.

“I’ve got nothing but respect for him

“You’d love him to be a one-club player … but we understand the decision he’s made.”

Greene’s departure is one of several key list decisions for the Giants, who now appear destined for an off-season reset.

The club and veteran Jake Stringer have mutually agreed to part ways, while key forward Jesse Hogan and ruck Kieren Briggs are eyeing moves to Collingwood and Richmond respectively. Reports also emerged this week the Giants were open to offers for defensive duo Lachie Whitfield and Harry Himmelberg.

Greene’s call looms as a coup for the Cats, who recently missed out on Zak Butters after the Port Adelaide restricted free agent selected Western Bulldogs as his preferred destination.

“We are really excited Toby wants to join the Geelong Football Club,” Cats football boss Andrew Mackie said in a statement.

“We know this was a significant decision for Toby and his family, and we recognise what the Giants have meant to him and respect the contribution he has made to their club.

“We are looking forward to helping Toby write the next chapter of his career at the Cats.”

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