Overview
- Dozens of bottles and cans were hurled from the stands as field umpires left the MCG after the match, forcing officials to take evasive action and narrowly avoiding injury.
- The throwing followed a late holding-the-ball free against Hawks defender Jarman Impey that led to Hugh McCluggage’s match-winning goal in the final seconds.
- Video from the game showed umpire Jacob Mollison shielding a colleague from a projectile that appeared to come from the upper levels of the ground.
- The AFL and Melbourne Cricket Club have opened a joint probe with Victoria Police using stadium CCTV and steward reports, and the league has pledged at least five-year bans for anyone identified.
- Stakeholders including the AFL Umpires Association, the AFL Fans Association and Victoria’s premier condemned the conduct and warned the incident adds to a season-long concern about thrown objects and fan safety.