League boss says fighting at Southern league grand final was ‘deplorable’ and ‘unacceptable’

LEAGUE chiefs have promised to come down hard on spectators who clashed with players, forcing the abandonment of a footy grand final in Melbourne’s southeast yesterday.

Southern league Div 3 grand final: Mt Waverley v Carrum Patterson Lakes the game was called off at half time as an all in brawl broke out as the carrrum players returned to their dressing rooms they were verbally and physically assaulted by spectators from Mt waverley. Pictured is the coach (andrew lucas) for carrum being consoled by his wife/ girlfriend. Picture: Paul Loughnan

THE Southern Football League has vowed to come down hard on the spectators who attacked Carrum Patterson Lakes players and caused the abandonment of Saturday’s Division 3 grand final.

League chief executive David Cannizzo said this afternoon the SFL was determined to identify and punish the culprits.

He said they had ruined the season-decider and brought embarrassment to the league and its clubs.

FOOTY BRAWL HALTS GRAND FINAL

“The people who have brought this game into disrepute … we’re going to do everything we can to make them answerable for their conduct,’’ Cannizzo said.

“We want to get to bottom of it as quickly as we can. This type of thing is deplorable and unacceptable.

“It will be dealt with quickly, comprehensively and very sternly.

“It’s extremely disappointing because our clubs do a lot of wonderful work to create a fun, fair and inclusive environment.

“I feel for the players, I feel for the supporters who went to the ground wanting to watch the football … there is this numb feeling at the moment.

“It’s going to be a challenging few weeks.’’

The match between Carrum Patterson Lakes and Mt Waverley at Ross St Reserve in Heatherton was called off at half time after CPL players were set upon as they entered their changerooms.

It’s understood at least four Lions players were assaulted.

Fearing for the safety of his team, and after speaking with Cannizzo, league directors and coaches, CPL president Steve Barnes made the decision to abandon the game.

Mt Waverley was leading by 25 points.

Most of the crowd of 4000 were unaware of the incident and were stunned when Cannizzo announced the match was over and asked them to leave the ground.

Police brief SFL chief executive David Cannizzo at the Heatherton ground. Picture: Paul Loughnan

Cannizzo said he was “in the vicinity’’ of the fighting and saw “violence and hysteria’’.

Police said the incident broke out about 3.30pm.

“Witnesses have told police that as one of the teams were leaving the grounds they were jeered and heckled by supporters from the opposing team,’’ a police statement said.

“A fight broke out between the players and the supporters involving up to 20 people. One person has been conveyed to hospital with minor injuries.’’

The SFL board met at Springvale Reserve on Sunday morning, appointed an independent investigator and ruled out replaying the grand final.

The league left open the prospect of awarding a premiership.

“We as a board decided we couldn’t even discuss that until we had all the facts of the matter before us,’’ Cannizzo said.

Barnes said an SFL media policy prevented him from commenting. He would only say his club supported the SFL investigation.

Mt Waverley coach Jarrod Wilkin said he was surprised when the grand final was stopped.

“Someone just came in and said the game was off, that there had been an incident and that the league would investigate it,” he said later.

“We thought something was wrong after the (half-time interval) lasted half an hour.”

He said the abandonment of the match left “a really empty feeling ... it’s hard to describe.”

Mt Waverley president Jay Cavanagh told Leader: “It was definitely a shock — no one expected it.”

Police maintain a presence outside the Mt Waverley changerooms. Picture: Paul Loughnan

Cannizzo said it was too early to say if the league would consider banning alcohol from finals matches.

In a statement on Sunday, AFL Victoria general manager Grant Williams said there was “no room in our game for those who do not behave appropriately at the football, either on or off the field’’.

“Fortunately, the vast majority of players and supporters understand what behaviour is appropriate and acceptable at the football,’’ Williams said.

“The leaders within community football leagues that have jurisdiction will investigate these unacceptable incidents when they occur and appropriately deal with the players and spectators responsible.”