Pictured: Policewoman Rachel Miller
A policewoman who was headbutted by AFL star Toby Greene’s father went to his sentencing on Friday to watch him get locked up.
Rachel Miller was attacked by Michael Greene while kicking him out of the MCG for being too drunk during the Grand Final on 28 September.
Police removed Greene from the men’s toilets at about 5pm after complaints from other spectators.
He then lashed out at constable Miller and was arrested.
Greene on Friday pleaded guilty at Melbourne Magistrate’s Court to more than a dozen charges.
He was sentenced to nine months in prison and banned from pubs for two years.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton blasted Greene after the arrest.
It is just not good enough that police should be subjected to that sort of behaviour,’ Mr Ashton said.
‘Any violence towards police officers is abhorrent and is to be deplored.
‘The sort of issues our police are dealing with these days is getting progressively more difficult.’
Greene and his 26-year-old son, who is a star played for GWS Giants, are estranged and haven’t had a solid relationship in about two decades.
Michael Greene attacked constable Rachel Miller (pictured) while being kicked out of MCG for being too drunk during the Grand Final on 28 September
Greater Western Sydney Giants star Toby Greene’s father Michael Greene (pictured) was arrested at the AFL Grand Final for assaulting a police officer
‘Toby is estranged from his father,’ the AFL star’s mother Kate told 7News.
‘His father has battled mental health issues and has had nothing to do with this family for over 20 years.’
Toby Greene’s finals campaign was difficult even before prior to his dad’s arrest.
The half-forward flank’s 20-year-old cousin Finley took his own life in June, as the GWS star and his team worked toward qualifying for their first grand final appearance.
His mother, Kate Greene told 3AW how she had no choice but to break the news to her son over the phone.
‘I had to ring up Toby in Sydney and tell him what happened and he just drove straight to the airport in his shorts and thongs and jumped on the first plane to come home,’ she said.
Greene, 60, (pictured) assaulted the female police officer at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Toby Greene of the Giants looks dejected after the team’s defeat at the Grand Final
‘Since that, we’re just picking up the pieces.’
Toby was going to dedicate the premiership to his late cousin if his team were able to topple the Tigers.
‘If he wins, he’ll be doing it for Finley,’ Ms Greene said.
‘There’s nothing that will ever make this any better, it’s the most tragic thing that can happen to a family, but it might give us a little bit of happiness for the day.’
Toby Greene’s younger cousin Finley, (pictured together as children) tragically took his own life earlier this year
Finley (pictured) was just 20 at the time of his death. Greene was going to dedicate the premiership to his late cousin if his team were able to topple the Tigers
Mr Greene and his son are allegedly estranged and haven’t had a solid relationship in recent years
Toby previously said his parents separated when he was five or six, but that both his parents tried their best to raise him.
‘I don’t think I had a difficult upbringing,’ he told The Herald Sun in 2017.
‘Mum and dad were pretty much the complete opposite. Mum was a really good mum. I went to a private school, got a scholarship to Wesley and that was lucky, and dad sort of had some troubles growing up.
‘He’s still a good dad, but he couldn’t control himself sometimes I guess.’
Toby acknowledged he and his dad had some difficult and sometimes terse interactions growing up – particularly when his father was intoxicated.
But he said his father’s heart was always in the right place.
‘He is one of the nicest guys you’d ever meet. If you ask all my mates, he always looked after us really well, he just let so much go. He’s really caring, really understanding, but he’s just put his body through too much.’
New legislation recently introduced by the Victorian government requires courts to hand out a minimum sentence of six months behind bars for anybody convicted of assaulting an emergency worker.
Greene was one of 43 people who were ejected from the grand final match on Saturday.
Most of those people were removed for behaviour issues, while others smuggled alcohol and drugs into the event.
Flares were set off in the crowded Richmond precinct as thousands of fans celebrated the win
Police move in as flares are set off on Swan Street as Tigers fans celebrate their team’s victory in the 2019 AFL Grand Final
Other offences included ticketing violations and assaulting police officers.
Two men from Brookfield were also charged with assaulting police.
A 21-year-old allegedly bit an officer, who required treatment in hospital after the attack, while a 27-year-old was charged for hitting an officer on the back of the head.
A further six people were arrested during post match celebrations of the Richmond Tigers 89 point victory over the Giants.
Fans lit flares and set fire to GWS merchandise in celebration of the win.
Dramatic images show police moving into the crowd to protect fans as mobs of rowdy spectators made their way to Swan Street.
Toby Greene’s team lost by 89 points in the deciding match against the Richmond Tigers