Katherine Camels coach Mark Tyrrell said his team was told it needed an ‘exit strategy’ if it won the Big Rivers Football League grand final

Katherine Football Club coach Mark Tyrrell said his team was told it needed an “exit strategy” if it won the Big Rivers Football League grand final. Watch the ‘brawl’ video here.

Two players and an umpire were allegedly chased with scissors during a melee after a Katherine football game on Saturday night, the coach of one the clubs involved says.

In a separate incident, NT Police arrested three spectators and issued them with infringement notices for disorderly behaviour following a “large disturbance” after the match about 9.20pm between the Camels and Ngukurr Bulldogs, which the Camels won 14.9 (93) to 7.22 (64).

After the siren, several Camels players were pulled away from a growing melee that appeared to involve Bulldogs fans, livestream footage of the game shows.

AFLNT is now investigating the incident.

Later, several Bulldogs spectators appeared to throw objects at Camels players as they retreated from the oval.

“Unfortunately there’s a little bit of bad blood ... this is unfortunate for the Camels – they deserve better than this,” a livestream commentator said as the incident occurred.

However, Camels coach Mark Tyrrell told the NT News tensions had boiled over as spectators came onto the field “rapidly” after the final siren and abuse was yelled out from the sidelines.

Tyrell said the club was informed to have an “exit strategy” if they won the match, which came just weeks after an all-in brawl at half time between the two clubs during the final round of the Big Rivers Football League senior men’s competition.

Camels coach Mark Tyrrell said the Ngukurr Bulldogs were let down by their supporters. Picture: Supplied.

“We were told ‘Be ready, if they lose you guys have to have an exit strategy of what you’re going to do after the game’,” Tyrrell said.

He said he understood the Bulldogs were likely to be booted from the competition.

“We told our guys, if anything looks like it’s going to go pear shaped just get off, don’t retaliate, just go,” he said.

“The worst thing we probably did was start running ... then they started chasing and that’s when it just exploded.”

He said the Bulldogs had been “let down so horribly” by their unruly supporters.

“The Ngukurr boys were trying to stop it,” he said.

“It’s just devastating ... it’s just sad.”

He said the tinderbox wasn’t helped by a lack of police presence, with children inciting players, coaches and staff by the interchange bench.

He also said there were “a lot of intoxicated people” at the ground despite it being a dry event.

Katherine Camels won the Big Rivers Football League grand final by 29 points. Picture: Katherine Camels.

However, after the match, he said two of his players and an umpire were pursued by a male spectator with scissors after the Camels won by 29 points.

“There were kids stuck in the middle of what was going on in the end,” he said.

“Projectiles were being thrown.

“Heaps of bottles, bottles of water. They were all full.

“They got chairs from the bench. We’re talking eight-year-old kids up to 50-year-old men.”

He said there was a “mixed” reaction from his players.

“It’ll be something they won’t forget, but it’ll be for the wrong reason,” he said.

“I think (the local players) just take it in their stride .... this is just sometimes how it is.

“Which is terrible to think.

“And other guys from Victoria with eyes wide open going what the hell?!”

He said it was a shame his victorious team could not access the livestream to the match which had since been taken down from the website.

AFLNT called the incident “appalling” and it had no place in modern footy.

“The AFLNT will follow due process in investigating the incident and will take all relevant actions relating to those involved as part of this process,” it said in a statement.

In a Facebook post, the Camels apologised to fans for the post-game behaviour of some.

“Apologies to those watching at the ground and at home, that was disgraceful behaviour,” the club stated.

NT Police said there had been no reports of “weapons” being used.

Ngukurr Football Club has been contacted for comment.