Ugly scenes as school footy match erupts in brawl

Private school staff have lashed out at “a lack of discipline” on the field after a punch-on broke out among teens at a footy match between two elite schools.

Tensions boiled over at a school footy match when a Melbourne Grammar boy threw a punch at a Haileybury student.

A punch-on between teenagers at a weekend school sports event has prompted elite private school staff to slam aggressive on-field behaviour.

It is understood a fight broke out among teenagers on rival teams when a 13-year-old boy from Melbourne Grammar School threw a punch at a 14-year-old Haileybury student as tensions boiled over at a football match on Saturday.

A source, who wished not to be named, said Haileybury’s sporting staff and coaches became frustrated with what they described as “a lack of discipline” on the field against the Melbourne Grammar student who appeared to have instigated the fight.

Melbourne Grammar headmaster Philip Grutzner said “disciplinary action” had been taken against the students involved, but it remained unclear who instigated the fight.

Melbourne Grammar School headmaster Philip Grutzner said disciplinary action had been taken against the students involved.

He said it was “disappointing” that the school’s year 8 football players were involved in the scuffle that broke out just after the final siren.

“Aggressive behaviour of this kind is unacceptable. Disciplinary action has been taken,” he said.

“Melbourne Grammar School expects all students to conduct themselves with integrity and respect for others.

“It is our practice when something like this occurs to try to use it as an educational opportunity, and this has been the case for the students concerned and their team more broadly in this instance.”

Both schools are among the 11 members of the elite Associated Public Schools of Victoria sporting competition (APS).

But Haileybury College sporting staff and coaches said they were frustrated by a lack of on-field discipline.

A sports coach at an APS school said: “The higher the level of the team, the lower the level of aggression”.

“Aggression at senior levels tends to go on the ball, not the man,” he said.

“The issue is more among bottom teams where there are less skilled coaches and staff who are less interested. Biffo can escalate pretty quickly,” he said.

It comes as punch-ups between players continue to mar junior football games.

The Herald Sun last month obtained footage of a teenager punching another player at a Gippsland League under-18’s which left the victim concussed.

The 16-year-old was arrested and slapped with a six-week ban for the attack.

In May last year, a junior footballer was allegedly coward punched twice by an opponent in an under-14s game at Vermont Recreation Reserve in Melbourne’s east.

Mr Grutzner maintained there was no bad blood between the two schools over the incident.

Haileybury was contacted for comment.