AFL 2020: Matt Crouch, Jacob Townsend on report in heated Crows-Bombers melee

Two bitter rival AFL stars have been placed on report for an apparent half time headbutt in a heated moment in Adelaide.

Matt Crouch and Jacob Townsend got heated.

Adelaide star Matt Crouch and old rival Jacob Townsend have been placed on report for an apparent half time headbutt during their clash in Adelaide.

In a physical half of football, tempers finally boiled over after the half time siren when Bomber Devon Smith put his shoulder into Crows defender Daniel Talia a fraction late.

Talia turned around and charged at Smith, but was cut off by Townsend, who bent over and tackled Talia before he could get his hands on Smith.

While Townsend and Talia sized each other up in a grappling hold, Crouch ran in and snatched Townsend around the back of his neck and gave his neck a shake.

While Talia turned around to have another go at Smith, Crouch and Talia stared each other down while they each had a handful of the other’s jumper.

After a brief standoff, one of the players appeared to pull down on the other, bringing their heads together with some force.

Tempers Flare between Adelaide’s Matt crouch and Essendon's Jacob Townsend.

As teammates ran in from everywhere, the on-field umpire was heard telling both Townsend and Crouch that they were both on report.

By the time they could be separated by teammates, both players were spotted with blood leaking from their foreheads.

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However, replays showed there was only minimal contact made and Fox Footy commentators, including Jason Dunstall, were not impressed that both players had their names written into the umpire’s book.

“I reckon he’s butted him,” commentator Dwayne Russell said.

Dunstall replied: “How can you report both of them for that?

“He doesn’t actually headbutt him, he grabs his jumper and pulls him towards him. He doesn’t throw the head.”

Crouch and Townsend famously traded blows during the 2017 AFL grand final when Townsend was part of Richmond’s premiership team.

Both Matt Crouch and Jacob Townsend have been placed on report following this incident at half-time. pic.twitter.com/R4iypFVzt6

— AFL (@AFL) July 26, 2020

On a bad day for the Crouch family, star midfielder Brad Crouch was also forced from the field with a hamstring injury in the first half.

The Crows announced just a few minutes later that he would not be taking any further place in the game.

He was spotted on the Crows’ interchange bench with ice on the injury.