MCC threatens lifetime bans over AFL final bottle throwing incident
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The incident occurred during a match on Saturday. (Getty Images: Josh Chadwick/AFL Photos)
In short:
The head of the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) says he wants footy fans who threw bottles at umpires during Saturday's preliminary final at the MCG to be banned for life.
Police say five people have been fined for poor behaviour during the dramatic game, including one for alleged bottling throwing.
What's next?
Police, the AFL and MCC are preparing for a full house when Fremantle and Brisbane meet in the Grand Final this weekend.
At least one person has been fined over a bottle throwing incident during Saturday's AFL preliminary final, as the Melbourne Cricket Club vows to pursue lifetime bans for those involved.
Umpires were forced to take cover as bottles were thrown at them while they left the field following Brisbane's dramatic nine-point victory over Hawthorn.
A late penalty was awarded to the Lions against Hawthorn's Jarman Impey for holding the ball, which allowed Hugh McCluggage to put Brisbane ahead with less than 30 seconds remaining.
Victoria Police on Tuesday revealed 10 people were ejected from the MCG on Saturday night for poor behaviour.
Acting Superintendent Matt Bui said five of those have since been issued with fines, including one for throwing a bottle.
"It's extremely disappointing on all fronts," Acting Superintendent Bui said.
"This is a passionate game but unfortunately the line's crossed when it turns to aggression, and it is criminal."
Acting Superintendent Matt Bui says police are examining CCTV footage from Saturday's match. (ABC News)
The AFL said it would ban those found to be involved from all games for a minimum of five years, while the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) is looking to ban them from all events at the MCG.
MCC Chief Executive Officer Stuart Fox said he wanted to see the bans imposed for life.
"We're very, very keen to get as many people [identified] as we can," he said.
"That was just unacceptable behaviour. It's not part of our game, it's not part of coming to the 'G so we need it to stop.
"It cannot happen again."
The Melbourne Cricket Club's Stuart Fox says those who threw bottles at the umpires should be banned for life. (ABC News)
Acting Superintendent Bui said police were examining a substantial amount of CCTV footage from various angles around the ground and officers were keen to speak with other people who had been identified.
He said extra police would be at the ground during Saturday's match and members of the Public Order Response Team would be patrolling with long-arm rifles.
"If you have intentions to cause trouble or disrupt the environment for others, you can just stay home," he said.
A capacity crowd is expected at the MCG for the AFL Grand Final on Saturday. (Facebook: Melbourne Cricket Ground)
Food was thrown at a mother and her son in another incident during Saturday night's grand final.
The boy's father this morning told Triple M radio that the AFL, MCG and the CEO of Hawthorn had offered the family tickets to the grand final.
But he said his son was unwilling to go, despite being a Lions fan.
"He's not too keen to be honest, he's like, 'Maybe we should just watch it from home'," the man said.
A sellout crowd is expected at the MCG when the Lions face off against the Dockers during Saturday's grand final.
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