GREATER Western Sydney midfielder Toby Greene has put a controversial year behind him to sign a three-year contract extension.
As flagged by AFL.com.au earlier this month, Greene will remain a key part of the Giants' midfield until the end of 2018 after inking a new deal.
The 21-year-old has played 53 games and is one of the most prolific ball-winners to grace the AFL through his first three seasons.
After being taken at No.11 in the 2011 NAB AFL Draft, Greene has averaged more than 26 disposals a game.
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As much as his on-field exploits have won plaudits, the popular midfielder is just emerging from one of the most difficult times of his short career after an off-field incident earlier this year.
Greene was fined $2500 in the Melbourne Magistrates court last week after pleading guilty to a charge of unlawful assault arising from a late-night altercation in May.
He was also fined $5000 and suspended for five matches by the Giants mid-season for drinking while injured and failing to properly notify the club of his involvement in the fight.
Greene is glad the incident is behind him and stoked to have secured a long-term deal.
"It's awesome to get locked in for three years," Greene told AFL.com.au.
"We didn't win many games the first two years, but we improved last year and I really believe we're going in the right direction.
"I want to be around and hopefully make an impact. Hopefully we can push towards finals and top four in the next few years."
Greene was candid about the challenges he had faced off the field this season, saying he had learnt a lot, and that two things stung the most.
"I reckon I've come off better for going through that," he said. "It helped build my character.
"Having to talk to the boys was pretty hard at the start. And missing five games, especially as we won a couple.
"There's nothing worse than sitting there when you know you could be playing. That was pretty hard."
Greene's form was outstanding once returning to the senior team, averaging more than 30 disposals a game over the final eight weeks.
He said he owed it to his teammates to play well, and was looking to be a more damaging player in the forward half in 2015.
Greene said his next task would be to convince out-of-contract teammates – including Jeremy Cameron, Adam Treloar, Devon Smith and Dylan Shiel – into joining him in extending their stays with the Giants.
"I'll be getting into Jezza (Cameron) pretty soon, now that I've signed on," Greene laughed.
"We need some of those boys to hang around if we want to be a strong team. I'll be giving a few little hints in the next couple of months."
Giants coach Leon Cameron said he had no doubts the quartet would sign on.
"We're confident the program they're involved in and the sort of footy we think we're capable of playing, these guys will want to be a part of it," Cameron said.
"They've been there for the first three of four years, done it hard, they want to be here for the next four or five years when they can see there's great light at the end of the tunnel.
"I actually see great loyalty in that group in amongst their eyes and their body language. I'm not concerned."
