Year 9 players from Xavier College and Brighton Grammar clash in an on-field fight

Players from two of Melbourne’s elite APS boys’ schools clashed in an “all-in” on-field brawl during a match in Kew on the weekend, with some boys “deliberately stomped on”.

A fight occurred during a match between Year 9 boys at last Saturday’s game between hosts Xavier College and visitors Brighton Grammar.

An on-field fight occurred between Year 9 football players from two of Melbourne’s elite APS boys’ schools in upmarket Kew last weekend, the Herald Sun can reveal.

The incident occurred during last Saturday’s game between hosts Xavier College and visitors Brighton Grammar and was described by one onlooker as an “all-in brawl”.

A number of minor injuries resulted from the melee, which involved students from Brighton being “deliberately stomped” on by boys from Xavier.

Emily Beaton, a spokeswoman for Brighton Grammar described the incident as “unfortunate and unacceptable”.

“We are following up internally and working constructively with Xavier on this matter,” she said.

Xavier College declined to comment specifically but it’s understood teachers responded to the incident on Saturday morning and there has been follow-up with the students involved since.

A parent who witnessed the “disturbing” event said they had noticed poor behaviour between the schools “escalating in recent years”

A spokesman said the school “has high expectations of our boys in terms of their on and off field behaviour and anything that falls short of those expectations, no matter which side might instigate the behaviour of concern, is always closely prosecuted and learnings addressed”.

Another parent who witnessed the “disturbing” event said they had noticed poor behaviour between such schools “escalating in recent years”.

The previous week, the APS sport football fixture kicked off, with traditional rivals St Kevin’s College and Xavier College first boys’ teams playing. St Kevin’s College won 75 points to Xavier’s 51.

Although both schools praised the behaviour of the students in the crowds, one parent who attended said they were shocked by the way the boys “stormed the pitch and knocked over one of the deputy principals”.

Vision of the match has been widely shared on social media, with some calling it “healthy private school sporting rivalry on display” and others “feudalistic”.

APS sport, which involves Saturday morning matches between male and female students at a number of top schools, is under review amid declining support from students, parents and staff.

Schools in the APS - Associated Public Schools - competition also include Geelong Grammar, Haileybury, Wesley College and Carey Grammar.

Such schools have produced over 50 AFL draftees, including household names Chris Judd, Jobe Watson and Bailey Smith.