Port Adelaide mascot 'Thunda' was reportedly in the wars after copping a whack from an ill-tempered Adelaide fan.
The mascot was punched in the face by a minor, with the club confirming the attack after taking photos with fans along the western stand of the Adelaide Oval.
The person inside the costume was left with a bloody nose and was treated by medical staff, according to the Herald Sun.
On Monday, Port Adelaide assistant Tyson Goldsack said that mascots should not be subject to violence.
“I heard it briefly. I'm not sure what exactly happened, but you certainly don't want to be attacking mascots, that's for sure,” Goldsack said.
It came in the same match that Power defender Dan Houston shoulder charged Izak Rankine, resulting in the Crows matchwinner suffering a concussion and ultimately being ruled out of the last home and away round.
Rankine was stretchered off the field, but not before it sparked an all-in melee between 36 players, with Houston being the nucleus of it.
The 2023 All-Australian was sent straight to the Tribunal by Match Review Officer (MRO) Michael Christian, with it understood that a ban of five weeks would be the league's starting position.
During the same evening, it was made aware that Port Adelaide forward Willie Rioli was subject to racist comments on social media.
Both the Power and Crows are investigating the comments, as it was revealed that the offender was not a member.
As the 56th edition of the cross-town clash emerged from the weekend, calls to have the Showdown be a standalone fixture have been made.
AFL GM Laura Kane said it would be remiss of the league to not consider displaying the marquee match in prime time.
"We were really pleased with the standalone Thursday night fixture (Round 8) earlier in the year," Kane said on AFL Media's Footy Feed Extra.
"We always look at ways we can celebrate these games. It's a week-long event. There's so much talk about it in the lead-up, and the feeling is electric when you're there.
"Absolutely, we want to showcase those games.
"AFLW will kick-off with the Showdown the first Saturday night of Round 1, so we always look at ways we can highlight those on the fixture.
"Because they are some of the best games."
