He was just sixteen when he made his VFL debut in round 1, 1974 for St Kilda. After playing eight games with St Kilda in 1980, he joined Hawthorn for the rest of that season and was a key player during a successful decade for the club. He won the VFL Players Association Most Valuable Player award, now known as the Leigh Matthews Trophy, as well as Hawthorn's best and fairest honours in 1984. Greene was chosen in the All-Australian team in 1983, 1984 and 1985. Greene's last game was the 1988 grand final win over Melbourne.
Greene has been involved at a few different clubs over the years, in 1994 at North Melbourne, Greene was the fitness advisor, a position he also held in 1997 at St. Kilda.
Since retiring from football, Greene has worked as a PE teacher, first at Melbourne Grammar School, and currently (2011 – present) at Marnebek School in Cranbourne.
South Australia 26.16 (172) defeated Victoria 17.14 (116), at Football Park, 16 May 1983, crowd: 44,521
Western Australia 16.22 (118) d Victoria 16.19 (115), at Subiaco Oval, 12 July 1983, crowd: 44,213
Victoria 16.12 (108) defeated South Australia 16.8 (104), at Football Park, 15 May 1984
Western Australia 21.16 (142) defeated Victoria 21.12 (138), at Subiaco Oval, 17 July 1984
