Giant decision: Greene makes call to come back to Victoria

Family considerations were the driving force behind GWS captain Toby Greene’s decision to join Geelong, ending his brilliant 15-year career with the Sydney-based expansion club.

The 32-year-old unrestricted free agent told the Giants on Thursday he will accept a three-year deal to play alongside former teammates Jeremy Cameron and Tanner Bruhn at the Cats.

Greene paused contract extension negotiations with the Giants until season’s end as he weighed up returning to Victoria to be closer to family after he and his wife Georgia welcomed their first child, Isla , in February 2024.

But he made it clear during media and podcast appearances in recent weeks how tough it would be to leave GWS, where he played 282 games and served as co- or solo captain for the past five years. He is the club’s games record holder, two-time best and fairest, and four-time leading goalkicker, as well as being a three-time All-Australian.

In a sign of the changing times, Greene’s decision means four captains, or former captains, could change clubs this trade period, with Scott Pendlebury joining the Suns, Lachie Neale expected to join the Magpies, and Zach Merrett aiming to become a Hawk. Former West Coast captain Oscar Allen joined the Lions as a free agent last year and ex-Saints skipper Jack Steele joined Melbourne.

Greene’s decision signals the end of an era at the Giants as Stephen Coniglio is now the only foundation player remaining at the club.

Departing CEO David Matthews will also be replaced by James Avery in November, while Lachie Whitfield and Harry Himmelberg could be traded.

Tom Green, who was sidelined with a knee injury in 2026 and will be a free agent in 2027, is likely to replace Greene as captain. Jesse Hogan (Collingwood), Kieren Briggs (Richmond) and Jake Stringer have already departed, with Stringer’s AFL future uncertain.

Greene, who is arguably the greatest player in Giants history, said last week on Tommy Sheridan’s Ausmerican Aces podcast that he was seeking as many opinions as possible to help him make his decision.

Incoming Bulldog Zak Butters was among the people Greene consulted when the ex-Port Adelaide star was still considering signing with Geelong.

“I’ve just been speaking to a lot of people, [and getting] a bit of advice, but at the end of the day, it’s your decision. You’ve got to own it and make it. But I’m in no rush,” Greene said at the time.

“We’ll continue to have a good discussion about it and speak to as many people as possible, including people from the Giants, and go from there.”

The Giants said in the statement that Greene’s decision to move to Victoria was for family reasons “with a view to join the Geelong Football Club”.

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