AFL Fans Face Five-Year Bans for Throwing Bottles at Umpires

AFL fans face a minimum five-year ban from games and stadiums if identified as having thrown bottles at umpires during a heated preliminary final match between Hawthorn and the Brisbane Lions.

The incident occurred on Saturday night at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where Hawthorn lost by nine points. As match officials walked off the field, they were hit with bottles thrown from the stands.

The AFL has condemned the behaviour, warning that it will work with security and police to identify those responsible.

"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 controversy centred around a series of contentious umpiring calls, including a holding-the-ball free kick against Jarman Impey in the final minute of the match, and a match-clinching goal kicked by Brisbane's Hugh McCluggage.

Several Hawthorn players, including James Sicily, Tom Barrass, and Jack Ginnivan, were involved in heated discussions with umpires after the game. Sicily and Barrass have since been fined $10,000 and $5,000 respectively.

"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," Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell said post-match.

Mitchell acknowledged the passion of the fans but urged them to express their emotions responsibly.

"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."

On Sunday, Premier Ben Carroll denounced the behaviour, stating 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."

Ron Issko, president of the AFL Fans Association, also condemned the actions, highlighting the risk of serious injury to players, umpires, and spectators.

"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.

"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."