Ugly fan behaviour condemned after cans, bottles thrown at umpires

Football fans who threw cans and bottles at umpires face a five-year AFL ban while two Hawthorn veterans face steep fines for umpire abuse after an ugly finish to Brisbane’s last-minute preliminary final win on Saturday night.

Police fined five fans, including one who threw an item, and said five others were assaulted at the MCG 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 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 top level of the stadium.

On Sunday afternoon, police confirmed they had fined a 40-year-old from Croydon $418 for throwing a bottle, although this was not the fan whom Mollison had pointed out.

The AFL has also fined two Hawks players for abusing umpire Hayden Meyer in the moments after the final siren.

Hawks co-captain James Sicily was fined $10,000 and veteran defender Tom Barrass $5000 for misconduct; the match review officer determined the usual fixed fines didn’t meet the seriousness of the offence, so levelled the higher fines towards the players.

The Hawks or the players can challenge the sanctions at the AFL Tribunal.

“The match review officer has determined that the matters do not constitute the fixed financial offence of ‘abusive language towards an umpire’ given the prescribed sanction for that fixed financial offence is inadequate in all the circumstances and does not reflect the seriousness of Sicily or Barrass’ actions,” the AFL said on Sunday.

Police said they were pleased overall with the crowd of nearly 98,000, but 10 people had been 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.

Meanwhile, the AFL said in a statement: “The AFL and MCC security will work with Vic Pol to identify the bottle throwers directed at the umpires last night. If identified, they will be banned from games and the stadium for a minimum of five years.”

Premier Ben Carroll joined the AFL Umpires Association, the Hawks and former Hawthorn president 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 return 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 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 said 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,” he said.

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.

“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,” he told this masthead.

In a statement, AFL Umpires Association boss Rob Kerr said the action of sections of the crowd after the siren was completely unacceptable, and welcomed the swift condemnation.

“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,” Kerr said.

“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.”

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. MCC chief executive officer Stuart Fox said they had zero tolerance to the behaviour displayed.

“Saturday night’s game was sensational, but the behaviour of some fans was appalling. Throwing objects is dangerous, disrespectful and simply not acceptable,” Fox said.

“It’s not what sport is about and it has no place at the MCG. Our team has been reviewing security footage since the conclusion of the match to identify those responsible. Where we can identify individuals involved, we won’t hesitate to issue stadium bans.”

with Danny Russell

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