Former AFL coach Grant Thomas blasts Andrew Dillon and Laura Kane over handling of GWS antics

Former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas has launched a tirade at AFL CEO Andrew Dillon the league’s head of footy, Laura Kane, in the wake of looming penalties set to be handed down to a group of GWS players.

A group of Giants players are in the process of submitting explanations for their actions during some ill-fated Wacky Wednesday celebrations that got out of hand.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: AFL launches investigation into GWS Giants party.

7NEWS Melbourne’s Mitch Cleary first reported that there were a number of members of the playing group whose costumes and actions at the private bar were reprehensible, and could attract big suspensions for the start of next year, or considerable fines at the very least.

Thomas was an outspoken critic of the game when he worked in the media following his coaching career, and has remained unapologetic with his views on his own social media platform thereafter.

The 66-year-old regularly posts his unfiltered thoughts on the game and interacts with the thousands of fans who agree or disagree with them.

On Wednesday night, the vocal footy pundit took aim at the AFL, more specifically Dillon and Kane.

“I coached Andrew Dillon, I have enormous respect for him as a player and person,” he started.

“BUT unfortunately I have to acknowledge he is completely out of his depth, paddling, lacking assertive leadership and strategy, bumbling in the media, always looks nervous and lacks confidence.

“Couple that with Laura Kane who is also — unfortunately — struggling and seemingly light on the skills required and you have the CEO and GM of the business you’re in — footy — both overwhelmed and unable to lead the industry. Scary stuff.”

While he didn’t specify in his initial post exactly what prompted the attack on Dillon and Kane, Thomas engaged with one comment that gave it away.

Over a thousand people liked the post within 12 hours and more than 100 commented.

But the former preliminary final coach’s response to one was the most telling.

“The AFL is also responsible for the game nationally, not just a competition,” the comment says.

“Can disagree with a lot of their decisions (I do), but they have multi-layered responsibilities.

“How the game is accepted in society is 100 per cent part of their role.”

Responding to the comment, Thomas added: “How they are accepted in society is leadership and course of action, not a mandated strategy overbearing the primary aim.”

Giants skipper Toby Greene is fighting a $20,000 fine, not for his costume on the day — he went dressed as Raygun — but for his lack of leadership, as captain, in failing to call the behaviour out.

Earlier, Thomas had been critical of Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield, who is also the AFL Players’ Association president.

Thomas was angered by the AFLPA’s silence on the GWS Giants player scandal.

He said the AFLPA was “gutless”, and the club should tell the AFL to “butt out”.

“Clubs should be signing off on all player functions. If it’s out of their jurisdiction or they can’t, then the offence has zip to do with AFL,” he said.