Father of coward punch victim Patrick Cronin speaks out over MCG brawl
The father of coward punch victim Patrick Cronin has expressed his horror over a violent brawl during an AFL game, and revealed his eerie connection to one teen allegedly involved.
Outer East
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The father of coward punch victim Patrick Cronin has spoken out about the Eltham teenager who allegedly knocked another man to the ground in a violent brawl at an AFL game.
Sam Bevan-Shannon was identified as the 19-year-old in a Richmond guernsey who allegedly pinned another man onto the ground and threw punches at him.
Matt Cronin said he knew the young man.
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“Sam played all his junior football at Research Junior Football Club while I was president and on the committee at the club.
“In 2017 and 2018 Sam also played at Lower Plenty Football Club — the same club where Pat played.
“Sam knows all about Patrick, all about our story and the consequences around what a cowardly punch can do.”
The former Parade College student had even won the annual Patrick Cronin Medal for playing 100 games at Research Junior Football Club.
But the award, which changed its name from the Legends Medal after Patrick’s death, acknowledged commitment to the club, not behaviour.
Mr Cronin said Mr Bevan-Shannon spoke to the Cronin family on Friday.
“We are offering him to attend one or more of our Be Wise Awareness sessions at schools and footy clubs and also to participate in our Be Wise Research program which has been designed to try to understand the reasons people act with violence,” he said.
Mr Bevan-Shannon initially received a $322 fine for riotous behaviour but was arrested, charged and released by police on Wednesday.
He and two others will face Melbourne Magistrates Court on July 4.
Mr Cronin said fines sent the wrong message to violent offenders.
“You get a $6000 fine for running onto the MCG and a $322 fine for a coward punch,” he said.
“Line the two acts up against each other and one disturbs a game of footy and the other can potentially kill someone — the parity doesn’t seem right.”
Last week’s incident comes only days before the closure of the Windy Mile pub — the Diamond Creek venue where Patrick Cronin was fatally coward punched by Andrew William Lee in 2016.
Mr Cronin said the Murphy family who own the pub were more innocent victims of Pat’s untimely death.
“We are really sorry for them, they have lost a business and an income stream — it’s not good for the community,” he said.
While Mr Cronin wished success for the venue if it were to change name or purpose, the Windy Mile shutting as a pub did not offer any ounce of closure.
“We won’t drive anywhere near it — that’s never going to change,” he said.
“Even though Pat died in hospital that’s (the Windy Mile) where it all happened.”
Mr Bevan-Shannon has been contacted for comment.
Bakers Delight Eltham will be supporting the Pat Cronin Foundation by donating $2 from every pack of hot cross buns sold on Saturday, April 6.