Ngukurr Bulldogs handed hefty fine following BRFL grand final brawl

The AFLNT has handed a Big Rivers club a hefty fine and suspended several players after a brawl broke out at the end of the grand final.

A club has been slapped with a hefty fine and several players have been suspended following an investigation into an alleged major brawl after the 2022 Big Rivers footy grand final.

At least three spectators were arrested and issued with infringement notices for disorderly behaviour following a disturbance after the match between Katherine Camels and Ngukurr Bulldogs on September 3.

The Camels on 14. 9 (93) to 7.22 (64) but celebrations were quickly disrupted when they were pulled away from a growing melee allegedly involving Bulldogs fans.

At full time ,several members of the crowd stormed the field forcing players from both sides to retreat.

Findings from an independent investigator appointed by the AFL integrity unit found there was no evidence to suggest players from either side were involved in the crowd violence.

However, the AFLNT has charged several players from the Ngukurr Bulldogs for aggressive and violent behaviour directed at their opposition and umpires.

A melee broke out between Katherine Camels and Ngukurr Bulldogs players in the final round of the Big Rivers Football League. Picture: Supplied.

Jake Farrell was charged with striking resulting in a three match penalty but he can accept a two match penalty with an early guilty plea.

Farrell was also charged with serious misconduct after making contact with an umpire, an offence that landed him a further four-week suspension.

Mario Joshua was also handed a four-week penalty after making contact with an umpire and can accept a three-week penalty with an early guilty plea.

Nico Farrell was charged with behaving in an abusive, threatening or obscene manner towards an umpire, resulting in a three-match penalty, down to two matches with an early guilty plea.

Ngukurr Bulldogs Football Club will receive an $8000 fine, $4000 of which will be suspended for the next three BRFL seasons.

The suspended amount will be called upon if the club is connected to any further serious on or off field incidents.

Ngukurr’s license to compete in the league will also come into review if they are involved in any serious incidents in the future.

Katherine Camels runner Matthew McDonald has received a notice of breach for striking another person in the immediate aftermath of the match.

He has been given a 15-match penalty but can accept a 12-match suspension if he accepts an early guilty plea.

All identified spectators who engaged in the crowd violence following the match will receive a minimum five-year ban from all AFLNT events and venues.

Ngukurr Bulldogs will continue to help identify individuals involved in the post-match altercation.

An AFLNT spokeswoman said they would continue to review potential game environment initiatives and debrief key stakeholders to ensure future events were safer.

“AFLNT prioritises the environment in which we play our game and takes incidents of violence very seriously. There is no place for violence in our game,” the spokeswoman said.

“AFLNT will make no further statement with regards to the incidents during the 2022 BRFL Season.”

The NT News is taking a stand against violence in sport in light of recent incidents that have occurred across codes, genders and age divisions. We have spoken to anti-violence campaigners pushing to change the language used in sport and reveal the impact violence has on players, their families and the wider community. We will also reveal incidents that have led to court action and another where a player was allegedly the victim of racial abuse.