Updated ,first published
Five football spectators were assaulted and cans were thrown at umpires as ugly fan behaviour boiled over at a tense preliminary final at the MCG on Saturday night.
Police fined five AFL fans, including one who threw an item, and said five other fans were assaulted during Brisbane’s nine-point preliminary final victory over Hawthorn.
Dozens of fans flung bottles and cans at the umpires as they walked off the ground after the match. Hawks fans also booed the umpires and vented their frustration over a series of high-stakes decisions in the match’s dying minutes that went the Lions’ way.
Footage showed one field umpire, Jacob Mollison, reacting quickly to protect his colleague from a projectile that appeared to have been thrown from the second level of the stadium.
On Sunday afternoon, police confirmed that they fined a 40-year-old from Croydon $418 for throwing, although this was not the fan who Mollison pointed out.
Police said they were pleased overall with the crowd of nearly 98,000, but 10 people were evicted from the venue. Two fans were removed for “behaviour incidents” and one for entering without a ticket.
“Two men were assaulted as they made their way to leave the venue. The victims were allegedly punched after remonstrating with another spectator,” police said.
Another two people told police they were also punched as they were leaving, and a fifth man struck his head on a wall after an alleged push. He was not seriously injured.
In yet another incident, a mother claimed a man threw nachos at her and her son. “It’s absolutely disgusting, and I’m just sick of going out in Melbourne and being worried for my safety,” she told 3AW’s Jacqui Felgate.
Premier Ben Carroll joined the AFL Umpires Association, the Hawks and Jeff Kennett in condemning the ugly scenes that threatened to overshadow perhaps one of the greatest football games this century.
Carroll said the throwing of bottles was “not the Victorian way”.
“I think these people should be made an example of. This could have had catastrophic injuries if one of those bottles or cans hit an umpire on the head,” Carroll said. “You’ve always got to respect the umpire’s decision.”
Former grand final umpire Ray Chamberlain said fans who threw projectiles onto the field should not come back to the football.
The Lions clawed back the lead moments before the final siren when Hawks defender Jarman Impey was pinged for holding the ball and Lion Hugh McCluggage coolly slotted a goal from the resultant free kick.
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell said he understood the fans’ emotions, but added that “we shouldn’t be throwing things on the field”.
“The emotion of sport, it’s why we love it so much,” he said in his post-match press conference. “All sports, but ours in particular – the beauty is the emotion it makes you feel. At the end of the game, part of me wanted to break down in tears. Part of me wanted to scream with rage. Part of me wanted to throw chairs.”
Chamberlain, who was at the ground commentating for the ABC, also acknowledged the passion of fans, but told this masthead on Sunday that throwing bottles and cans on the arena crossed the line.
“I love the passion. It is the best game in the world with 100,000 at the MCG doing its thing, but if you are going to throw stuff, don’t come back,” Chamberlain said.
“Have your feelings, have an opinion, be passionate, it is what makes it great. The fans are the single most important ingredient in the whole thing. But if you are going to throw projectiles, don’t come.”
Mitchell was also gently critical of the umpires, saying the Impey decision was not the main one that concerned him.
“[There were] a couple leading up to it and other key moments in the game. I’m sure the umpires will assess how they performed in the game in key moments.”
Carroll would not be drawn when asked if these comments were appropriate so soon after the ugly crowd reaction.
“I thought the umpires did an excellent job, but I don’t think at any level of any sport, umpires can be having projectiles thrown at them because it is just so dangerous.”
Ex-premier and Hawks president Jeff Kennett was at the game, but said he didn’t notice any bottles being thrown as he left on the final siren. He said he saw nothing wrong with Mitchell’s comments.
“I didn’t feel it was anything else but measured. You could feel the pain in it: often people give their best speeches when they lose,” he said. “Any throwing of projectiles, whatever they are, in whatever setting, is simply unacceptable.”
AFL Fans Association president Ron Issko said on Sunday that he was stunned by the spectacle.
“I’ve never seen a collective doing what they did like that,” he told this masthead.
“It wasn’t just one or two or five people. It looked like it was a few hundred people around the entire ground throwing stuff onto the ground. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.”
In a statement, AFL Umpires Association boss Rob Kerr said the actions of sections of the crowd after the siren were completely unacceptable, and welcomed the swift condemnation.
“The AFLUA condemns, in the strongest terms, the actions of those supporters who threw bottles and other objects at the umpires as they left the MCG following last night’s preliminary final,” Kerr said.
“Umpiring finals football is an enormous responsibility, and the umpires met that challenge with skill and composure throughout an intensely contested match. There is no justification – ever – for responding to an umpiring decision with threatening behaviour.”
“The umpires showed real courage to make the decisions they did in an incredibly fierce contest, executing their roles under intense pressure. For a section of the crowd to respond to a decision – made in real time – by throwing bottles at the umpires is indefensible.
“Umpires do their job to the very best of their ability, and they deserve to leave the ground safely. We hope the AFL and the MCC can identify those responsible and ensure they face real consequences.
“The AFLUA commends the umpires for the courage and professionalism they have shown throughout this finals series.”
Earlier this year, Hawks star Nick Watson claimed he had a Coke bottle thrown at him in a match against Sydney, while a fan who threw a lemon at Eagles player Reuben Ginbey was banned for five years.
In late 2024, police charged a 23-year-old Northcote man after throwing a bottle at an AFL goal umpire. The umpire, Steven Piperno, had to be subbed out of the St Kilda-Carlton game with a cut to his head.
Issko said the incident would be on the agenda of his group’s next meeting with the AFL, but he was unsure how to prevent a recurrence of such widespread delinquency.
The MCG said its security team was investigating the incident. “We have zero tolerance for this type of behaviour at our venue,” a spokesperson said.
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