- The game was suspended with nine minutes remaining.
- Collingwood were miles ahead of the Demons
- Fans questioned why the suspension was necessary
AFL fans have been left furious after the Collingwood vs Melbourne clash at the MCG was controversially called off on Friday night due to fears for player safety due to nearby lightning strikes.
The fourth quarter lasted an extraordinary 65 minutes after play was stopped for 40 minutes due to inclement weather.
Rain began to fall heavily early in the fourth quarter, but a strong lightning strike nearby was a cause for concern for AFL officials on the sidelines.
Play continued for a further five minutes until the players were forced to retire with Collingwood 41 points ahead, before the Magpies eventually won the match 15.13 (103) to 8.9 (57).
Under AFL regulations, play must be suspended for 20 minutes if lightning strikes within 10km of the venue.
Amid the chaos, Collingwood ruck Mason Cox joked he was glad the referees had taken them off the field because he was an ideal target for a lightning rod.
“I’m grateful, because to be honest, I’d be the first person to be struck by lightning, being the tallest guy alive,” Cox joked.
“I’m grateful we stopped.”
Although Cox had a sense of humour, there were plenty of angry fans, particularly in the stands where they had to brave the rain and lightning while the players huddled in the sheds.
“Fans are not allowed to evacuate from the stands, which could potentially be more dangerous… I give up. What a joke,” posted one.
“But let’s leave the whole crowd inside the steel structure,” added another.
‘So all the players are on the field because of the floodlights, but there are no precautionary measures in place to ensure the safety of the crowd. AFL at its best.’
ABC radio reported that security were herding spectators indoors but there was no evacuation of the general crowd despite AFL officials ruling that nearby lightning was strong enough to be dangerous for players.
Other fans felt sorry for the security guard and ground officials who were forced to remain on the same ground the AFL had deemed unsafe for players.
“Funny how they have to carry players off the field. Then they send security to keep them on the ground. Haha, they should be expendable,” one posted.
Fans had to sit in the rain as players were escorted off the pitch due to a nearby lightning strike.
Football fans questioned why conditions were deemed unsafe for players but not spectators.
Others criticised the AFL’s lightning rule and called for the game to continue.
“What a joke. The MCG is right next to the city, there are dozens of buildings with lightning rods on the roofs. There is a better chance of winning the Powerball than getting struck by lightning at the MCG,” fumed one football fan.
And some fans believe the match should have been called off, with both teams out of contention for the final and the outcome beyond doubt.
“If you could ever shake hands and finish a game, this would be it,” one follower posted.
It was the second match at the MCG delayed by lightning this year, with Hawthorn and Geelong forced into the changing rooms in the final quarter of their big Easter Monday game.
Former Western Bulldogs star Brad Johnson said it was a frustrating situation for the players with just nine minutes of play remaining and the outcome already beyond doubt.
“The conversation (in the rooms) was: ‘Can we finish this now?’ – We know that can’t happen, of course,” he told Fox Footy.
“I can tell you now that the last nine minutes are going to be very long for both teams, there won’t be much contact and we will play the minutes.”
Melbourne great Garry Lyon added: “It’s incredible circumstances that have conspired; nine minutes, the result means nothing and Melbourne can’t come back and win.”