The AFL has handed down a lifetime ban on the fan who ran onto the Adelaide Oval during the Adelaide and Geelong match in Round 2.
The patron, who reportedly isn't a club or AFL member, has been handed a lifetime ban from all AFL and AFLW matches, with the sanction eligible for review after five years.
CHAOS with a short delay in the game for a pitch invader in Adelaide ๐
๐บ Watch #AFLCrowsCats LIVE on ch. 504 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/c5VwhmeFbG
โ๏ธ BLOG https://t.co/ktWH0pQ5oV
๐ข MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/8iAz0yWnXD pic.twitter.com/h4cfehHBU0— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) March 22, 2024
AFL General Counsel Stephen Meade said: โRunning onto the ground during a match is not only senseless, but it is unsafe and unlawful.
โIf you choose to do it, then you will not only be given a significant fine, but you will have deal with local authorities and ultimately lose the privilege of attending AFL matches.โ
โThe AFL will continue to work with venues across in the country toย ensure that there is a strong and consistent deterrence to this unsafe behaviour at all AFL and AFLW venues.โ
The AFL and the Adelaide Oval were involved in a similar incident in 2022, where the pitch invader was banned for six years.
EXCLUSIVE: A Smithfield footy fan has labelled his six-year ban from Adelaide Oval as harsh but has promised not to invade the field again. Jeremy Cortvriend was dragged off the ground by security guards during the Showdown. https://t.co/Q8kdU8H2An @AKunowski #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/AQ9cf7BQ6n
— 7NEWS Adelaide (@7NewsAdelaide) August 24, 2022
Two patrons will also have to answer for the decision to enter the field.
During the Easter Monday clash between Hawthorn and Geelong, two separate pitch invaders entered the field during the extended three-quarter time break.
Both clubs retreated to their respective changerooms as a severe weather warning swept through the MCG.
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The game was delayed for 40 minutes and resumed at 6:11pm.
The AFL has yet to comment on the pitch invaders from the Cats-Hawks game.
