Three men spoken to over food and bottle throwing in Hawks-Lions prelim
Three men have been interviewed by police over objects thrown from the stands during Friday night's Hawthorn-Brisbane preliminary final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
A preliminary final decides who makes the Grand Final. This one finished with a late Brisbane goal and anger spilling from the stands.
Victoria Police say a 34-year-old Seaford man allegedly threw a plate of food at a woman and child during the match, ABC News reported. He is expected to be charged on summons with aggravated unlawful assault and discharge a missile.
Police also interviewed a 56-year-old Tullamarine man over a bottle allegedly thrown onto the field at the end of the game. He was fined $418 under the Major Events Act, which covers behaviour at big sporting venues.
A third man, a 40-year-old from Croydon, was detained by security and spoken to by police for throwing a bottle onto the field during the match. No further action against him has been detailed.
Bottles and cans were thrown onto the field after the siren, including some aimed at the umpires as they walked off. The AFL said on Sunday it would work with MCC security and Victoria Police to identify those responsible, The Guardian reported.
The flashpoint on the field came with 18 seconds left. Field umpire Hayden Meyer paid holding-the-ball against Hawthorn's Jarman Impey, meaning Impey was penalised for failing to dispose of the ball correctly when tackled. Brisbane kicked the go-ahead goal from the free kick.
Eighteen seconds remained. Hawthorn could not answer.
After the siren, Hawthorn captain James Sicily and defender Tom Barrass confronted Meyer. Meyer later said he felt threatened and intimidated by their language and manner. Both players were fined for their actions.
Meyer said he had received an apology from Barrass but was still waiting to hear from Sicily. Impey himself said Meyer made the right call.
For fans, this means the fallout will stretch into Grand Final week. Meyer is scheduled to officiate in the Grand Final this weekend.
Police investigations after football crowds are rare at this scale. The message from the league and police is simple. Throw something and you will be found.
