Former senior Finks bikie Anthony Mavropoulos killed in motorcycle crash at Somerton Park

A former senior Finks bikie has been identified as the man killed in a crash that played out in front of students at a Somerton Park school yesterday.

A former Finks bikie, who was found guilty of shooting a man in the groin, has been identified as the man killed in a horror motorcycle crash at Somerton Park.

Anthony Mavropoulos, 45, crashed into a Stobie pole at speed on Brighton Rd around noon on Monday.

Tyson Ward with Anthony Mavropoulos, who died in a crash on Brighton Rd on Monday. Picture: Facebook

The horror scene, which played out in front of school students at Sacred Heart College, took more than six hours to clear and Mr Mavropoulos, of Hove, died at the scene.

Witnesses reported Mr Mavropoulos had been travelling in excess of 100km./h and had run a red light prior to the crash.

Tributes were flowing on social media for Mr Mavropoulos, including from former Mongol and Fink bikie Tyson Ward.

“You were a true brother and you will be sorely missed,” Mr Ward wrote.

He said Mr Mavropoulos was travelling to his house at the time of the crash to go for a motorcycle ride together.

“You dusted off the Harley for our ride and rang and said you were on your way,” he wrote.

“I’ll be forever waiting for that ride. Much love and respect.”

In 2009, Mavropoulos was found guilty over a shooting at Prospect in the midst of a cannabis turf war.

He and two other men entered the victim’s home wearing balaclavas.

Mavropoulos woke the victim, then frogmarched him into his kitchen with a handgun to his head, then shot him in the groin.

Danny Marrone, another Finks associate, said he couldn’t believe one of his “closest and best friends” had died.

Police at the scene of the Somerton Park crash on Monday. Picture: Kelly Barnes

“We were the dynamic duo, we laughed together, we fought back to back on countless occasions no matter what, wrong or right, you had my back and I had yours,” Mr Marrone said.

”I love ya bro, you will be missed till we meet again.”

The crash victim was released from prison in 2019 after he tracked down a man who provided a statement to police about a shooting in 2007.

He had served eight years for his crimes after shooting an occupant of a Prospect cannabis grow house and suffered serious stab wounds during the incident.

Mr Mavropoulos was released on parole in 2015 but was back in jail three months later after producing a pair of knuckledusters, and threatening to harm the man who informed police.

He also stole cash from the victim.

One man said he remembered Mr Mavropoulos from his time in prison.

“I’ll always remember, even in jail, always had a good laugh,” he wrote.

“Love and respect, I will miss you.”

Mr Ward spoke at length to The Advertiser about his years as a bikie, and said he wanted to warn young people against a gang culture.

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