AFL Queensland investigating ugly fight between Marcus Ashcroft and Neil Lockett at Gold Coast junior footy grand finals

AFL Queensland is investigating an ugly fight between two of the biggest names in football in the state at a Gold Coast football grand final.

Marcus Ashcroft was involved in a ugly fight at a Gold Coast junior footy grand final. Picture: Tim Marsden.

AFL Queensland is investigating an ugly fight between two of the biggest names in football in the state at a Gold Coast football grand final.

Hundreds of parents and children witnessed an argument between former Brisbane Lions star Marcus Ashcroft and Neil Lockett, the brother of AFL legend Tony Lockett, that descended into a physical altercation on Saturday at Ormeau where all the Gold Coast football junior grand finals were being played.

AFLQ CEO Dean Warren said he would review the incident and stressed football needed to be safe zone for all participants both on and off the field.

“Football clubs need to be a safe place for all — parents and players. I will be reviewing the incident with the club,” Warren said.

Marcus Ashcroft was involved in a ugly fight at a Gold Coast junior footy grand final. Picture: Tim Marsden.

Lockett denied he was confronted by Ashcroft after verbally abusing his son and labelled the former Suns football manager the aggressor.

“I did not mention his son’s name at all and I have about 30 witnesses who I sat and watched the final with — it’s an absolute lie,” Lockett said.

“Marcus made a beeline for me after the game and got right in my face, accusing me of abusing his son at the football.

“He came around and started all these accusations and abuse.

“I grabbed him and he fell to the ground and that was it. It was all over in about five seconds.

“There were no punches thrown or alcohol involved. It was absolutely totally wrong, it should never have happened and I’m embarrassed about it. I’ve been coaching junior football for a long time and this is not in my character or in Marcus’s character.

“But what happened is not how it’s been portrayed in the media.”

The episode happened in the moments after the under-16 grand final between Southport Sharks and Palm Beach Currumbin.

Lockett coached the Sharks under-12 team this year and both he and Ashcroft, a national talent manager for the AFL, have sons who played in the losing Southport under-16 team.

Ashcroft’s son Will made the All-Australian under-18 team this year and is one of the brightest emerging talents in Queensland.

A witness said tensions escalated when Lockett was yelling at some of the players from the side line.

“Marcus asked him to stop and then Neil went up to him and hit him.”

“It was in front of crying kids and their wives who were telling them to stop,” one witness said.

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“Neil hit Marcus, put him in a head lock and through him to the ground. People had to jump in to separate them.

“Every club on the coast is talking about how bad it looked. They are the two biggest names in football on the coast.”

It is understood the AFLQ will await any potential sanctions delivered by Southport before deciding a course of action.

Neither Ashcroft or Lockett have made an official complaint to AFLQ at this stage.

Southport president Alan Mckenzie said it was a bad look for the game but would allow junior president Chris Harris, who didn’t return calls on Sunday morning, and his team to review the matter.

The AFL has been contacted for comment.

Southport recently suspended another parent involved with the club for four weeks for bringing the game into disrepute and sent a memo out to all parents warning them about their behaviour.