List of Violent Spectator Incidents in Sports - 1945

1945

• October 3 – During the VFL Grand Final between South Melbourne and Carlton, brawls broke out in the stands, bottles were thrown onto the field and at players, and fans jumped the fence to join in the numerous bench-clearing brawls, many of which were broken up by the umpires, team officials and the police. South Melbourne were also booed and pelted with various objects by Carlton fans upon leaving the field at half-time. During a final quarter brawl, Carlton player Fred Fitzgibbon, despite serving a four match suspension from the preliminary final for having king-hit Collingwood forward Len Hustler, ran onto the field and exchanged punches with South Melbourne wingman Ted Whitfield before being ejected from the arena. Seven players (including Fitzgibbon and Whitfield) were suspended for a total of 69 matches by the VFL.