The AFL have promised five-year bans for fans found to have launched bottles at officiating umpires as they left the MCG's field of play on Saturday night.
Field umpires Hayden Meyer, Brett Rosebury, Nathan Williamson and Jacob Mollison were confronted with prolonged booing from incensed Hawthorn faithful, and were also peppered with litter from those same supporters.
Meyer also had Hawthorn leaders James Sicily and Tom Barrass to contend with at the final siren, as the two men were left fuming by his decision to award Lion Hugh McCluggage with a free kick for holding the ball, inside his attacking 50, after he pinned Jarman Impey in a standing tackle.
Now, the AFL, together with Victorian Police and the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC) will work collaboratively to identify offending patrons, promising bans from the stadium and games for a minimum of five years.
"The AFL and MCC security will work with Vic Pol to identify the bottle throwers directed at the umpires last night," the AFL said in a statement.
"If identified, they will be banned from games and the stadium for a minimum 5 years.
"The passion for footy is unmatched in Australian sport, however what transpired last night by a number of individuals was dangerous and crossed the line."
CEO of the AFL Umpires Association, Rob Kerr, applauded the courage of his decision makers, while deeming the conduct of the bottle throwers as "indefensible".
"The umpires showed real courage to make the decisions they did in an incredibly fierce contest, executing their roles under intense pressure," Kerr told News Corp.
"For a section of the crowd to respond to a decision made in real time by throwing bottles at the umpires is indefensible.
"Umpires do their job to the very best of their ability and they deserve to leave the ground safely regardless of the result. We hope that the AFL and the MCC can identify those responsible and ensure they face real consequences."
Five-year bans would be in keeping with the punishment handed to a Sydney fan earlier this year, after live wire Nick Watson revealed he was the target of a projectile in the Swans clash with the Hawks.
In the aftermath of the loss, Hawks coach Sam Mitchell admitted it is an emotional game, but implored fans to let such emotions be "felt responsibly".
Throwing bottles and litter at a person is assault and battery and should be prosecuted as such.
There is no excuse.
However, “boos” are not “wrong” in any way.
Anyone who watches the game can readily understand how umpires are worthy of “boos” and to be honest, complete derision.
The “AFL” is not to be absolved of its’ own blame of course – with ever complicated “interpretations” replacing the rather simple Rules of the game…. and the assertion that the umpiring “has never been better”.
The ability of the umpires to make “arbitrary decisions” to “keep the game flowing” will ALWAYS be seen as a way to call some frees – and deny others.
IF there were similar frees not paid the other way – the ONLY response is that the umpires cheated.