Aussie rules fights caught on camera over the past 12 months
Footy is meant to be a game played for enjoyment but sadly there are times it has spilt into much darker areas. These are some of the wildest fights and incidents caught on camera.
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It’s the dark side of footy – passions spilling out among players, officials and fans.
Footy is meant to be a game played for enjoyment but sadly there is a growing list of examples across Australia in which a brawl has marred an Aussie rules match.
These are some of the wildest incidents.
VICTORIA
A Melbourne footy competition at the centre of a local brawl in May 2023 was forced to defend its reputation.
A joint statement by Essendon District league chairman Bernie Shinners and chief executive Andrew Johnston called out a string of incidents which had occurred in the opening weeks of the season.
Although it did not directly speak on the incident which forced the Division 1 senior men’s clash between St Albans and Hillside to be called off.
“The Essendon District Football League has a very proud 93-year history of promoting a safe, inclusive, and healthy environment in the community. For the 2023 season, this is no exception,” the statement said.
Johnston and Shinners both called on followers of the league to help end the behaviour.
“We’ve seen too many umpires leave our game prematurely, too many young players driven away by the behaviour of their peers and/or adults, and too many community supporters who feel unsafe to attend the game they love,” they said.
No one was charged over the incidents.
Both clubs were charged with breaches of “conduct unbecoming arising out of the actions of its players, officials, supporters, and persons associated with the club”.
Both clubs have been deducted four premiership points while all players who participated in the game have been given a suspended one-match ban.
St Albans has been handed a $25,000 fine while Hillside was fined $20,000.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
A pair of finals-bound clubs copped fines in February 2023 following a fiery Round 17 face-off, in which players from both sides were put on report.
Tensions were high throughout the grand final rematch between Waratah and St Mary’s, with those feelings finally boiling over near halftime when players from both sides engaged in a melee.
Waratah were handed a $700 fine for their part, reduced to $350 with an early guilty plea.
St Mary’s didn’t escape without punishment as they were handed a $600 fine ($300 early plea).
No one was charged over the incident.
QUEENSLAND
A teenage Aussie Rules player was in July slapped with a four week suspension after king hitting an opponent.
The teenager, who played for Southport Sharks in the QAFLW league, missed three regular season games plus the first round of finals.
The incident occurred on-field during the third quarter of the Southport’s 35-point Round 13 win over the Maroochydore Roos.
AFL Queensland said the player was offered a four-match suspension by the AFL Queensland Match Review Panel.
“The club and player accepted the early guilty plea offer of four matches,” they said.
Southport Sharks Football Club Manager Jarrod Field said the player was remorseful for her actions when accepting the penalty.
The Maroochydore player involved in the incident was taken off-field for assessment.
No one was charged over the incident.
VICTORIA
An ugly off-field brawl involving a player and spectator in September 2022 marred a country footy grand final.
Footage of the incident at the Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League decider between Harcourt and Carisbrook emerged online.
In the video two spectators can be seen exchanging punches near the fence of Princes Park in Maryborough where the game was played.
Other people rush to split the pair up before a Carisbrook player is seen jumping the fence where he throws punches at a spectator.
The player eventually returns to the field of play as other spectators try to pull two groups apart.
Play is continuing in the background.
Among them is a young girl who can be seen running into the video trying to push a male away.
No one was charged over the incident.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Six clubs were fined for their involvement in melees and two players charged for misconduct during the NTFL’s No More Round in December 2022.
Despite it being a round where clubs and players take a stand against violence, Waratah and Southern Districts, Tiwi Bombers and Darwin Buffaloes, and St Mary’s and PINT were cited by the league’s match review panel following their matches.
All clubs received monetary fines.
No one was charged over the incident.
VICTORIA
The former AFL umpire at the centre of the Brownlow Medal betting scandal was left bruised and bloodied in July 2023 after being targeted in an ugly local football brawl.
Vision shows Michael Pell with blood gushing from his face after he was headbutted by a Taylors Lakes opponent.
Witnesses said Taylors Lakes players were sledging Pell by asking, “Who’s getting the three votes today?” and calling out: “Dan Hannebery, three votes” during his third game for Hadfield in the Essendon District Football League.
Pell was seen showing his bloodied face to an umpire and pointing at opponent Nicholas McIntosh — who was suspended for three matches — as the third-quarter melee at Martin Reserve dispersed.
That sidelines brawl was sparked when McIntosh shoved Pell into the fence. McIntosh then headbutted Pell as they grappled.
The fight involved about eight players and continued as the ball was tossed back into play by the boundary umpire.
No one was charged over the incident.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
A club was in December 2022 slapped with a hefty fine and had several players suspended following an investigation into an alleged major brawl after the 2022 Big Rivers footy grand final.
In a match between Katherine Camels and Ngukurr Bulldogs on September 3, which the Camels won 93-64, at full time, several members of the crowd stormed the field forcing players from both sides to retreat.
Findings from an independent investigator appointed by the AFL integrity unit found there was no evidence to suggest players from either side were involved in the crowd violence.
However, the AFLNT charged several players from the Ngukurr Bulldogs for aggressive and violent behaviour directed at their opposition and umpires.
Ngukurr Bulldogs Football Club received an $8000 fine, $4000 of which will be suspended for the next three BRFL seasons.
The suspended amount will be called upon if the club is connected to any further serious on or off field incidents.
Ngukurr’s license to compete in the league will also come into review if they are involved in any serious incidents in the future.
A trainer initially banned for 15 weeks over the incident later appealed his penalty and had it rescinded.
VICTORIA
A country footy grand final was in September 2022 marred by a post-match brawl involving spectators and players.
Video footage emerged of the incident following the Kyabram District Football Netball League decider between Lancaster and Murchison-Toolamba.
Fans can be seen rushing onto the ground at the conclusion of the game with swearing clearly audible from people behind the camera.
“You see hands being thrown everywhere,” one person said in the background.
Lancaster won their first premiership in 11 years defeating Murchison-Toolamba 6.10 (46) to 5.6 (36).
No one was charged over the incident.
TASMANIA
The coach of TSL champion Launceston was in August 2022 slapped with a $1000 fine and narrowly avoided a suspension after an off-field incident at North Hobart Oval.
Mitch Thorp was involved in an altercation with North Hobart president Craig Martin.
Following verbal abuse being directed at a North Hobart player during the under 18s game, Martin and 18s coach Matthew Ferguson approached the Launceston change rooms.
It was then when they were met by Blues senior coach Thorp.
The three become involved in a heated discussion outside the rooms about the on-field incident, with an alleged threat being made towards Martin.
The Launceston coach was charged with two breaches of AFL policy and Thorp was hit with a $1000 fine and a two-match suspension.
The two-match suspension was wholly-suspended on the condition Thorp did not further breach any policy in the National Community Football Policy Handbook for 12 months.
Martin was also contacted for comment.
“Mr Thorp’s behaviour was disappointing to say the least,” Martin said.
Weeks later Thorp was again involved in an incident during the grand final.
Vision captured Thorp approaching Tigers forward Tyler Carter as they made their way into the rooms.
“She’s on in the grandstand,” a commentator said.
“Mitch Thorp had a go at the big fella in (Tyler) Carter,” another replied.
“You can’t do that. You can’t do that,” the other responded.
No one was charged over the incidents.
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
A junior football player was allegedly struck by an opposition official during an under-13 boys SANFL match between North Haven and Fitzroy in August 2023.
The SANFL launched an investigation into the incident after the match at Sam Johnson Sportsground. The game was abandoned with the violent altercation involving a club official and a Fitzroy player leading to umpires showing two blue cards.
Sources who witnessed the event alleged that in the third quarter a North Haven official ran to the opposite side of the oval and struck a Fitzroy player, with the boy collapsing in pain and the official receiving a blue card as a result.
It is alleged the violent act was in retaliation to a dangerous ‘dump’ tackle during the contest.
The incident sparked a response from officials, who engaged in a confrontation which resulted in a second blue card being shown, effectively ending the game.
SANFL investigations remain ongoing. SA Police also confirmed it was investigating the incident.
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