AI-generated summary
Brisbane defeated Hawthorn by nine points in the AFL preliminary final at the MCG, secured by a late penalty and goal from Hugh McCluggage. The match ended with bottles thrown at umpires as they left the field.
At least one person has been fined over a bottle throwing incident during Saturday's AFL preliminary final, as the Melbourne Cricket Club vows to pursue lifetime bans for those involved.
Umpires were forced to take cover as bottles were thrown at them while they left the field following Brisbane's dramatic nine-point victory over Hawthorn.
A late penalty was awarded to the Lions against Hawthorn's Jarman Impey for holding the ball, which allowed Hugh McCluggage to put Brisbane ahead with less than 30 seconds remaining.
Victoria Police on Tuesday revealed 10 people were ejected from the MCG on Saturday night for poor behaviour.
Acting Superintendent Matt Bui said five of those have since been issued with fines, including one for throwing a bottle.
"It's extremely disappointing on all fronts," Acting Superintendent Bui said.
"This is a passionate game but unfortunately the line's crossed when it turns to aggression, and it is criminal."
The AFL said it would ban those found to be involved from all games for a minimum of five years, while the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) is looking to ban them from all events at the MCG.
MCC Chief Executive Officer Stuart Fox said he wanted to see the bans imposed for life.
"We're very, very keen to get as many people [identified] as we can," he said.
"That was just unacceptable behaviour. It's not part of our game, it's not part of coming to the 'G so we need it to stop."
Acting Superintendent Bui said police were examining a substantial amount of CCTV footage from various angles around the ground and police were keen to speak with other people who had been identified.
He said extra police would be at the ground during Saturday's match and members of the Public Order Response Team would be patrolling with long-arm rifles.
"If you have intentions to cause trouble or disrupt the environment for others, you can just stay home," he said.
Food was thrown at a mother and her son during another incident during Saturday night's grand final.
The boy's father this morning told Triple M radio that the AFL, MCG and the CEO of Hawthorn had offered the family tickets to the grand final.
But he said his son was unwilling to go, despite being a Lions fan.
"He's not too keen to be honest, he's like, 'Maybe we should just watch it from home'," the man said.
A sellout crowd is expected at the MCG when the Lions face off against the Dockers during Saturday's grand final.
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The Melbourne Cricket Club will succeed in imposing lifetime bans from all MCG events on individuals found guilty of throwing bottles.
Likely · Within weeks
Increased police presence, including the Public Order Response Team with long-arm rifles, will be deployed at the MCG for the AFL grand final.
Very likely · Within days
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A 34-year-old man from Seaford is expected to be charged with aggravated unlawful assault and discharging a missile after allegedly throwing a plate of food at a woman and child during the Hawthorn-Brisbane AFL preliminary final at the MCG. Two other men were fined for throwing bottles onto the field, including a 56-year-old Tullamarine man fined $418 under the Major Events Act. Police continue to investigate fan behaviour following the match.
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