AFL

1 hour ago

"Terrible scenes" as fans launch cans at umpires after MCG classic

By SEN

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The controversy of Saturday's classic between Hawthorn and Brisbane is far from over, with a number of fans seen throwing bottles and cans at the umpires as they exited the ground.

After a series of controversial calls including the game-altering holding the ball against Jarman Impey with just 30 seconds to play, the Hawthorn faithful were far from impressed with the decisions of the officials.

And in a rather distasteful series of acts, Hawthorn fans began launching cans, bottles and rubbish onto the MCG turf, directed at the field umpires as they walked towards the tunnel.

Dwayne Russell called it as it happened, with Gerard Healy, Adam Simpson and Andy Maher alongside him.

"Fans are throwing things on the field here at the MCG," Russell told the AFL Nation call.

"We've never seen bottles thrown on the ground like this before, have we? Have we ever seen a scene like this?"

Gerard Healy added: "It's rubbish. This is crap. The free kick was there every day of the week! I'm not sure what they're complaining about."

Adam Simpson: "I think you'll find that the umpires are in the right on this particular occasion."

Andy Maher: "They are getting things thrown at them here. This is terrible scenes."

Healy: "That is rubbish from the Hawthorn supporters."

Maher: "They are getting bottles thrown at them out there. Thankfully they got into the tunnel without (harm)."

The ugly scenes won't go without punishment - earlier this year, a fan in WA was banned from all AFL and AFLW games for five years after launching a lemon onto the turf at Optus Stadium.

Prior to that, a bottle-throwing Sydney Swans supporter was also banned from all AFL and AFLW games for five years, while also being banned from all sporting and non-sporting events at the MCG for five years.

The Sydney Swans ripped up the fan's membership following the incident.

With hundreds of bottles and cans on the ground, the AFL are likely to launch a lengthy investigation into the incident.

Brisbane Lions
Hawthorn