A pitch invader has been arrested after he interrupted the Crows and Cats blockbuster game

A northern suburbs man has been arrested and charged after running onto Adelaide Oval during Friday night’s clash between the Crows and Cats. Watch the video

The pitch invader who brought the intense game between the Adelaide Crows and Geelong Cats to a screeching halt has been arrested and charged.

The 22-year-old Blakeview man ran on to Adelaide Oval during the third quarter of the AFL match on Friday, March 22.

He was charged under the Recreation Grounds Regulations, with entering an oval during a scheduled event.

He was bailed to appear at the Adelaide Magistrates Court on 19 June.

At around 9.10pm, with Geelong building up momentum trying to turn the tide on a surging Crows side, a member of the crowd leapt the security railing and invaded the pitch.

The fan broke free from one of the security guard’s, with several more guards in tow after the bolting fan.

It was Adelaide’s Ben Keays taking matters into his own hands, tackling the uninvited fan to end the mindless run on the pitch.

With a final humiliation, while trapped under the mountain of security, Geelong’s Jeremy Cameron gave the holding the ball signal to the umpire as the man couldn’t move under security.

With security having a firm hand on the man, they escorted him “the long way” off the field as commentator Brian Taylor said.

Richmond Tiger great and commentator, Matthew Richardson said “that’s the end of him at the footy.”

Fellow commentator James Brayshaw was less than pleased with the audience member’s decision to run out on the field.

“And it should be Richo, seriously,” Brayshaw said.

“They’ve got to stop this game, there’s an idiot out there on the field. Astounding. And Keays just deals with him. It’s just amazing that you’d think that that’s something you would ever do.

“Beside of anything, it’s an occupational health and safety issue. The players have got no idea that a member of the crowd is suddenly moving around in the middle of frenetic play. You just can’t have it.”

Play got back underway shortly after the invaders exit of the field.

A spokesman for Adelaide Oval said the incident will be reviewed by their security teams and SAPOL.

“As per Adelaide Oval’s conditions of entry, anyone reported or arrested for entering the playing arena faces a minimum 3-year ban from the venue,” the spokesman said.

Last year in April, two teenage boys, aged 14 and 15, ran on to the field in front of a packed stadium, eliciting shouts from the crowd as they were tackled by security guards.

The boys, one wearing Port Adelaide colours, were close to the middle of the oval before five security guards caught up with them.

Adelaide Oval pitch invaders can face a SAPOL fine of up to $5000.