The AFL has condemned the behaviour of irate Hawthorn fans who “crossed the line” by throwing bottles at umpires, warning that they could be banned for five years if identified.
Brisbane and Hawthorn fought out one of the all-time great AFL finals on Saturday, but when the siren sounded the biggest noise in the MCG was the booing.
At the heart of the anger was a contentious holding-the-ball free paid against Jarman Impey in the last minute of the match.
Hawks players James Sicily, Tom Barrass and Jack Ginnivan had angry words with the umpires immediately after their nine-point loss to the Lions.
The officials then had bottles thrown at them from the stands as they walked off the field.
The AFL on Sunday said the league and MCC security would work with Victoria police to identify those who threw bottles and cans at the umpires.
“If identified they will be banned from games and the stadium for a minimum five years,” the league said in a statement.
“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.”
The Victorian premier, Ben Carroll, said the behaviour was “not on” and called for fans who targeted umpires to be “held to account”.
“It’s not the Victorian way,” he told reporters on Sunday.
“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, who knows what could’ve happened.”
The AFL Fans Association also condemned the behaviour, saying supporters had every right to be passionate and frustrated but there was a line that must not be crossed.
“Fans are entitled to disagree with umpiring decisions. They can boo, barrack and express their frustration,” the AFLFA president, Ron Issko, said in a statement.
“But 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.”
After the free kick against Impey, Brisbane’s Hugh McCluggage kicked the match-winning goal – the ninth lead-change of the game and the fourth in the last few frenetic minutes.
Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell said he was aware of the bottles being thrown on to 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,” he said.
“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.”
Mitchell reflects on ‘game for the ages’
Mitchell said the performance showed the football world that Hawthorn should be considered a “legitimate” team.
But the fiercely competitive mentor conceded this was the angriest he had been after a game and said it was too early to consider how his players could reflect.
“I think we’re in a mourning phase. What’s the first part, is it anger? I think I’m still half in anger, probably sense it in my body language,” he said.
“What’s after anger? I don’t know, last is acceptance and – I nearly said a bad word – I’m a long way from acceptance right now.
“I will sit in anger for a bit longer, I’m sure all the players will too.”
Mitchell said he was proud of the Hawks, who staged an outstanding comeback in the final quarter.
“If you want to strive for great things, you will open yourself up for all sorts of emotion, the greatest of joy, and the deepest of pain,” he said.
“That was a game for the ages. I’m sure I will appreciate it at some point,” he said.
For the Lions, Kai Lohmann was brilliant with five goals, including three in the decisive third term. Harris Andrews again starred in defence, and McCluggage capped his return to form with the match-winning goal.
“That was bonkers – just a rollercoaster of emotion,” Andrews said.
“It’s hard to digest right now. I’m just so proud of the way the boys were able to handle those moments late.”
Charlie Cameron put the match on a par with Brisbane’s comeback 2024 semi-final win over GWS, when Brisbane rallied from 44 points down to get up by five points.
“The Giants semi-final was probably my favourite game of all time,” he said. “But yeah, that was up there. Hughy McCluggage. What a star.”
Brisbane’s 20.11 (131) to 19.8 (122) win booked them a meeting with Fremantle in the grand final next weekend.
The Lions last played the Dockers at the Gabba on 30 May, when they lost by 25 points amid a difficult run of form. But the Lions have experience on their side in their first final against the Dockers, who are chasing a maiden premiership.
Coach Chris Fagan urged the Lions to lean into that experience to seize the rare prize of an AFL premiership three-peat.
“It’s very exciting to be in the position where we can achieve something like that,” Fagan said.
“But it’s not worth thinking about that because you get caught up in thinking the wrong way.
“We’ve just got to get back, recover well, come back down and just follow our process.”
