Geelong coach Chris Scott and his Adelaide counterpart Matthew Nicks have blasted a “dangerous” pitch invader who was manhandled by players in Friday night’s match at Adelaide Oval.
The spectator, appearing to be recording the episode on his mobile phone, ran on Adelaide Oval during the third quarter of the Cats’ 19-point win.
He not only entered the arena but ran straight into the action as players scrambled for a contested ball.
After an umpire stopped play, the Crows’ Matt Crouch grabbed the invader and briefly held him by his short-sleeved shirt before he broke free.
He sprinted around a pack of players in the direction of Ben Keays, who literally collared the offender and brought him to the ground, before security pounced.
The invader faces at least a three-year ban from Adelaide Oval and a fine of up to $5,000.
Scott was disgusted by the spectator’s behaviour and raised fears for the safety of players.
He referenced the infamous 1982 incident when Australian cricketer Terry Alderman dislocated a shoulder when tackling a pitch invader during an Ashes Test at the WACA ground in Perth.
“Maybe the fines aren’t big enough,” Scott said after the match.
“It’s really dangerous too.
“I am generally so far away from punitive reactions to almost anything in society, that’s just not the way I believe things should be done.
“But there is one example, I will go back and show my age … Terry Alderman needed a shoulder reconstruction because of one of these idiots.”
Nicks said Friday night’s incident was “concerning”.
“It’s really disappointing and it’s dangerous … pitch invaders, I don’t understand it,” he said.
“I took the opportunity to have a look into the computer and see where the team could be better so I didn’t really get a good look at what played out.
“But it’s disappointing to see that someone in this day and age still runs out on the footy field. I don’t get it.”
Asked if his players should have made contact with the invader, Nicks replied: “There’s high risk in that and that’s probably what I’m talking about when it comes to the dangerous part of actually someone being on a footy field.
“Especially when the game is going, to be right in amongst it.
“The dangers are huge not only for our players but for that individual.”
AAP
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