Inside story: How two men allegedly smuggled guns into the MCG

How did two men allegedly smuggle loaded weapons into an AFL game? Jon Ralph has the inside story on a disturbing incident which has the AFL on edge.

Screen grabs of vision capturing the arrests of two men allegedly with guns at the MCG. Source: Tik Tok

The image of a bumbling security guard failing to detect fans carrying dangerous weapons as they enter the MCG isn’t hard to conjure for anyone who has attended their share of AFL games.

Too often the security checks and bag searches feel second-rate and cursory no matter the technical advances and AI intervention boasted by stadium bosses.

Yet as the AFL, Victoria Police and MCC debriefed after a dramatic night when two men were arrested, accused of having multiple guns inside their trousers while inside the MCG, there was only one saving grace.

As much as the security system failed in totality, it was done in by a group of men who were intent on deceiving the system.

Sources suggest the group of four or five men created an orchestrated distraction at security to gain entry to the MCG.

Their purpose?

To retain guns that were used for personal protection rather than an attempt to create havoc or even a terrorist event.

The Herald Sun understands a group of four or five men who had bought tickets to the Carlton-Collingwood clash arrived well after the start of the 7.30pm clash at around 8pm.

Two of those men were allegedly carrying multiple weapons, with the Evolv Express security system flagging them for secondary screening.

It is alleged both of those men immediately offered bags to the security officer so he would not search their bodies or use a wand-style metal detector.

Screen grabs of vision capturing the arrests of two men allegedly with guns at the MCG. Source: Tik Tok

Screen grabs of vision capturing the arrests of two men allegedly with guns at the MCG. Source: Tik Tok

The security guard checked the bags, found nothing dangerous, and allowed them through.

For all the millions spent on security by the MCC, an element of discretion is still required by the individual security guards.

If a grandma walks through the gates with a handbag and Thermos, guards will complete a quick search and wave her on her way.

But a security official using his common sense and on guard for the kind of dangerous element that might risk the MCG’s security should be given extra attention.

The guard could not have known those men were on bail for previous charges and were known to police, but he might have read the signs to suggest it was appropriate to put them through a wand-style metal detector.

It is playing the percentages at a ground where up to 100,000 fans can flood in during the 90 minutes before a blockbuster game.

The advanced security system would have flagged the presence of metal rather than specifically weapons but it was supposed to funnel the men to the security guard who would conduct an extensive check.

Before the MCG introduced the new cutting-edge system almost every patron was checked with that handheld metal detector.

The worry for the AFL is that at other grounds there is only random use of those wand-style metal detectors – some estimate only 30 per cent of fans are ‘wanded’ – so the odds would suggest if people want to get in with dangerous items some will.

So instead of being turned away that group of men had their bags searched and were allowed entry to a crowd with a heaving crowd of 82,050 fans.

They entered through gate three into the MCG outer, where it was quickly established they were looking for trouble.

By 8.30pm – just before half time – their behaviour had already been poor before it escalated into complaints from those around them.

Security footage would have shown them mouthing off to fans around them before the situation escalated within seconds.

Security was already on watch and called in Victoria police officers who were on standby in the stadium.

At least two of that group resisted and were taken to ground by police in an instant.

Police say they found a pair of pistols on both of the men, who were both on bail for previous charges.

Screen grabs of vision capturing the arrests of two men allegedly with guns at the MCG. Source: Tik Tok

Those guns were believed to have been palm-sized, which helped them aid detection.

The AFL and MCC have already warned of increased protection at the MCG and other AFL venues this weekend.

But the scary reality is that while this is the first public incident despite crowds of 1.2 million so far, no one knows how many people with weapons actually gain entry to stadiums.

Fans who attend Olympic venues will know airport-style security with X-ray scanners are standard at many venues to ensure the safety of patrons and sportspeople.

They are laborious and costly, yet at the Paris Olympics despite crowds of up to 750,000 a day across all venues there was not one notable security threat inside an official venue.

The MCG’s security in theory should pick up dangerous goods, but as most fans would attest that the actual bag checks are often over in seconds.

The men managed to evade detection at the Carlton-Collingwood match. Picture: Michael Klein

Open your bag, shake around the top layer of food, drink or jumpers, get the nod of approval and you are free to go.

So the extra layers of security going forward will involve more rigour in ‘wanding’ patrons and checking bags more diligently than actually boosting security numbers.

On a night where Carlton fans went home embarrassed by yet another embarrassing defeat, only one question hung in the air.

Were the group of men Collingwood fans or Carlton loyalists?

None of them wore club paraphernalia … but the informed mail was that they were Collingwood fans.

MCC officials will take solace that their expensive tech-based security system before being let down by human error.

Stadium officials around the country will no doubt review every facet of their own security – including how many fans actually go through metal detectors.

AFL fans are used to rocking up close to game time and quickly passing through security.

At Marvel Stadium on Saturday fans who had to wait 15 minutes given footy’s version of rush hour were far from thrilled.

Yet after this scare they might have to accept a new reality where nearly every fan is subjected to some form of metal detector.

The alternative – spectators taking guns into a sporting venue and using them for harm instead of personal protection – is just too scary to even consider.

Originally published as Inside story: How two men allegedly smuggled guns into the MCG