When the ball was bounced to start the annual Easter Monday clash between bitter rivals Geelong and Hawthorn, the centre square contained eight athletes, one umpire, one Sherrin and a rogue pigeon.
This pigeon has nerves of steel ๐ pic.twitter.com/oulbtLprOH
— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 5, 2021
As the first quarter rolled on, the courageous rock dove continued to attend centre bounces and was undeterred by the myriad of studded boots that tore up the turf around it.
Centre Bounces Attended :
Guthrie - 12
Selwood - 7
Mitchell - 11
OโMeara - 9Pigeon - 27 #AFLHawksCats #AFL
— Nick Rippon (@Nick_Rippon) April 5, 2021
Although the winged invader was finally shooed to the sidelines, it did get us thinking about the weirdest and wackiest groups, individuals, items and beasts that have crossed the white line in the past.
This pigeon has taken his seat. pic.twitter.com/rlegwGAOCd
— 7AFL (@7AFL) April 5, 2021
With the game of Australian Rules Football now over 150-years-old and enjoying sesquicentennial status, we have almost certainly missed some of the game's strangest objects and intruders, so please, let us know your nominations in the comments.
Without further ado, here are the 11 most abnormal field occupants in our game's great history - besides Mark 'Jacko' Jackson.
1. Gabba Comedians (2020)
With just over three minutes left on the clock in last season's Grand Final, Richmond - down by five points - stormed inside 50.
Although Shane Edward's entry was inevitably repelled by Cats' defender Jake Kolodjashnij, the action in the Tiger's forward arc was far from over, with a goal of sorts actually scored.
Queensland-based pranksters Michael Broekhuyse and Martin Sokolinski had entered the ground with the aim of slotting a major of their own.
Although the pair were tackled post disposal and fined $750 each by a Brisbane magistrate, there is no telling how many social media followers their account 'martyandmichael' gained following their unwelcome jaunt.