AFL bans loom for bottle-throwing Hawks fans

The AFL has condemned the behaviour of Hawthorn fans and warned they face minimum five-year bans if identified after they "crossed the line" throwing bottles at umpires.

The match officials had bottles thrown at them from the stands as they walked off the MCG playing arena following the Hawks' nine-point loss to the Brisbane Lions in Saturday night's preliminary final at the MCG.

"The AFL and MCC [Melbourne Cricket Club] security will work with Vic Pol to identify the bottle throwers directed at the umpires last night," the league said in a statement.

"If identified they will be banned from games and the stadium for a minimum five years.

"The passion for footy is unmatched in Australian sport, however, what transpired last night by a number of individuals was dangerous and crossed the line."

At the heart of Hawthorn's collective rage was a holding-the-ball free paid against Jarman Impey in the last minute of the match.

It was the most controversial of a succession of contentious umpiring calls during the game.

Brisbane's Hugh McCluggage then kicked the match-clinching goal, which put the Lions in front by three points.

Hawks players James Sicily, Tom Barrass and Jack Ginnivan had a heated conversation with the umpires immediately after the full-time siren.

Their coach Sam Mitchell said he did not know about Sicily, Barrass and Ginnivan speaking to the umpires, but he was aware of the bottles being thrown onto the ground.

"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, you don't know how to react," Mitchell said post-match.

"So when you're in the stand, you need to continue to be feeling that emotion, because that's why we love it, but how it manifests itself. We shouldn't be throwing things on the field and doing those types of things.

"But the passion in the stand and the passion of the game is why we love it so much, so I hope that for the vast majority it was felt responsibly."

On Sunday, Premier Ben Carroll condemned the behaviour, telling reporters that it was not the "Victorian way".

"I think these people should be made an example of," he said.

"This could have had catastrophic injuries if one of those bottles or cans hit an umpire on the head. 

"You've always got to respect the umpire's decision."

AFL Fans Association president Ron Issko said he understood the passion, disappointment and frustration of Hawthorn supporters, but denounced their throwing of objects at the umpires.

"It is never, ever an excuse to throw bottles or cans on to the ground or at the umpires. What we saw was an ugly look for our game," he said.

"There is an even more serious concern when objects are thrown towards people.

"A bottle, or can, could cause a serious injury to a player, umpire, security staff, ground staff or another spectator.

"When a bottle is thrown towards an umpire and comes close to hitting them, that crosses an even more serious line. 

"No-one should have to fear being struck by a projectile simply because they are doing their job."