Tom Green handballs during Greater Western Sydney's clash against Port Adelaide in round 14, 2024. Picture: AFL Photos

GREATER Western Sydney midfielder Tom Green has been reprimanded for criticising the Match Review Officer and Tribunal on a podcast.

The AFL said on Thursday Green was given a formal reprimand for breaching AFL Rule 19.18(c) with "unfair, unreasonable or excessive public criticism" of the MRO and Tribunal on the 'In The Green Room' podcast.

"These included the following words (or similar) – that the Match Review Officer and/or the AFL Tribunal is "a disgrace" and is "ruining the game," the statement said.

Green was sent a please explain and he unreservedly apologised for his comments.

Giants football boss Jason McCartney said the club spoke to Green about the matter last Friday. 

"He had nine minutes on this topic and for large portions of it he articulated unbelievably well and he was very passionate. But in that nine minutes, there were three or four things that just did cross the line," McCartney told SEN Radio on Friday afternoon.

"He was very remorseful, very apologetic and he got on the front foot ...  with key people at the AFL and I just think it's a lesson for all our players and staff that the obligations are there, but we still want people to find that balance and I think predominantly Tom does that really well, but he missed the mark here and he gets a rap over the knuckles." 

07:31

Green made his comments on the podcast before the club had successfully overturned Toby Bedford's three-match ban for a tackle on Richmond midfielder Tim Taranto.

"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 podcast.

"I don't know if the Tribunal has finally admitted that it is so outcome-based but what is a better look for the game?

"Here is the reality of it: (Port Adelaide's) Zak Butters a couple of weeks ago deliberately punched me in the face, which again I don't want to see him necessarily miss a game for that.

"But in terms of intent and a bad look for the game, Zak Butters punched me in the face and didn't miss any games."

32:11

Green added: "I just think you are ruining the game. I honestly think the Tribunal with decisions like that is ruining the game."

The midfielder is averaging 30.1 disposals, 4.7 tackles and 3.1 marks this season.

The Giants are 11-7 and fifth on the ladder ahead of facing Melbourne at the MCG on Saturday night.