The aftermath of Hawthorn’s heartbreaking preliminary final against Brisbane at the MCG was almost as dramatic as the game itself. The Hawks had appeared to be on the verge of an extraordinary comeback after trailing by 27 points heading into the final quarter.
Hawthorn produced five of the first six goals of the term, turning what looked like a comfortable Brisbane victory into a thrilling contest and eventually taking a three-point lead late in the final quarter. With the MCG rocking, the game appeared to be Hawthorn’s to lose.
Then came the moment that will be debated for years. With less than a minute remaining, Hawthorn defender Jarman Impey was tackled by Brisbane’s Hugh McCluggage and was penalised for holding the ball. McCluggage was awarded a set shot from about 30 metres out and calmly kicked the goal with just 18 seconds remaining, putting the Lions back in front. Kai Lohmann then kicked his fifth goal after the final siren to complete Brisbane’s 20.11 (131) to 19.8 (122) victory.
The decision sent the already emotional Hawthorn crowd into a frenzy. As the umpires left the field following the siren, they were met with a barrage of boos, while bottles, cans and cups were thrown from sections of the crowd towards the officials. Security escorted the umpires from the ground as the ugly scenes unfolded.
For Hawthorn supporters, the anger was understandable given the extraordinary way their team had fought back from a seemingly impossible position, only to have the game turn on a free kick in the dying seconds. However, Hawthorn coach Sam Mitchell and club great Luke Hodge condemned the throwing of objects, making it clear that passion and disappointment should never cross that line.
The final moments will undoubtedly remain one of the most painful memories of an incredible Hawthorn comeback and one of the most dramatic preliminary finals in recent AFL history.
The primary manifestation of this crowd fury was a literal rain of projectiles directed at the field umpires as they attempted to exit the arena. Unlike isolated incidents where a single disgruntled spectator throws an item in frustration, the post-match scene at the MCG involved widespread participation. Dozens of plastic cups, full beer cans, water bottles, and even items of clothing were hurled from both the ground level and the upper decks of the stadium. The volume of debris was so significant that the playing surface and boundary lines were left completely littered with trash, creating a striking and uncharacteristic visual of disorder on cricket’s premier stage.
Wow that is nasty is there something in our water?
I understand the frustration of living cost takes it toll, but I wonder if some those people were drunk? this not acceptable….what pack of louts!
I can understand the passion for a footy team, but wouldn’t be good if the same applied by the type of people they choose to lead the country?
People had food thrown at them also hawthorn supporter. are animals. A woman and her child had nachos thrown at them by a hawthorn supporter.
Hundreds there cups cans and bottles onto the field.