Man assaulted in toilet cubicle during Anzac Day game between Collingwood and Essendon

The victim of Monday’s Anzac Day MCG attack has spoken out about the incident as police probe an exclusive function guest list and search hours of CCTV in the hunt for offenders.

Police continue to trawl through hours of CCTV footage and are probing the guest list of a corporate footy function in a bid to hunt two alleged offenders who bashed a man inside a MCG toilet cubicle.

Detectives from the Melbourne Crime Investigation Unit are yet to make any arrests after a man was punched by two assailants inside the Olympic room at the Anzac Day clash.

More than 600 people attended the President’s club ticketed event, hosted by Essendon football club, where seats ranged in price from $700 to $1000.

The victim, a 54-year-old Kensington man, said two men attacked him in the toilet cubicles at about 5.30pm.

“(They) just left hooked me right to the side of my face … that spun me around, instantaneously I lost vision,” he told 9News.

“Before I even got a chance… just a hail of strikes to the front and back of my head, repeatedly.

“It turns out they were probably paid guests or part of a corporate table.”

The victim was followed into a toilet cubicle by a gang of thugs before he was seriously assaulted at the MCG during the Anzac Day blockbuster. Picture: Nine News

The victim alleged he was punched about 15 times due to a verbal altercation over vaping.

“I couldn’t have been more relieved when the ambos separated my eye with their fingers and I could see them out the other side,” the victim said.

The man was involved in a separate altercation earlier in the day, when he responded to a man who issued a disparaging slur to an Essendon player.

“There were a few people that took offence at his comment, (it was) totally unrelated,” he said.

“I had never laid eyes on these people prior to this incident in the toilet.”

The MCC and the Essendon football club declined to comment.

President’s club members enjoy access to “first class hospitality, premium level two seating and special guest speakers at all Essendon home games” according to the website.

Attendees are eligible to access a five-hour alcoholic beverage package during matches.

Police are continuing to investigate the matter by collecting witness statements and speaking to organisers of the event.

Guest lists will provide crucial to investigations, as will hours of CCTV footage.

“The exact circumstances surrounding the assault are unknown and the investigation is ongoing,” a Victoria Police statement said.

Player slur incident ‘unrelated’

Details emerged n Wednesday after a man was bashed in a toilet cubicle at Monday’s Anzac Day blockbuster.

An altercation between two men, both Essendon supporters, began during the first quarter when one man made a disparaging comment about an Essendon player.

The Herald Sun has chosen not to report the word used due to its unsavoury nature.

The Anzac Day match has been marred by an attack on an Essendon fan. Picture: Mark Stewart

Another man, who was sitting nearby, took offence to the comment and the two began a verbal altercation, which continued throughout the game.

The pair bickered throughout the match.

The man who took offence to the initial comment was followed into the bathrooms inside the Olympic Room during the Essendon president’s function about 5.30pm, where he was set upon by three males in their 20s, witnesses said.

The victim says the altercations were separate and “totally unrelated”.

The victim, a 54-year-old Kensington man, was taken to hospital with injuries, and was transported from the bathroom by paramedics with his head covered.

Detectives attended the scene and interviewed witnesses in the aftermath of the assault.

Ambulance Victoria said paramedics took the man to St Vincent’s hospital about 6.20pm.

Anyone who witnessed the assault or with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Originally published as Man assaulted in toilet cubicle during Anzac Day game between Collingwood and Essendon