Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Roger Vaughan and Joanna Guelas

AFL fan issued banning notice, caution after incident

A teenage Swans fan is in trouble after allegedly throwing an object at Port's Aliir Aliir (right). (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)

A teenaged Sydney fan has received a youth caution and banning notice after he allegedly threw an object at Port Adelaide player Aliir Aliir.

The Swans and Venues NSW continued to investigate the incident, which happened in the final quarter of Sunday's AFL match at the SCG.

Sydney officials spoke with Aliir immediately after the game, and it is understood there was no racial abuse involved.

A NSW Police statement has confirmed the boy is aged 16, not 13 as initially reported.

"Police were told a 16-year-old had allegedly thrown a paper banner at one of the players," the statement added.

"The boy was taken to a room to speak with police before he was issued a banning notice, and a youth caution was organised."

TV footage showed the fan appearing to throw a cardboard clapper at Aliir after the Port defender, a former Sydney player, took a mark on the goal line in the last quarter.

Aliir then called out the fan, who was interviewed by police and stadium staff before leaving the ground.

A man called "Jack", said to be the teenager's grandfather, rang Melbourne radio station 3AW after the game and said the boy had been the target of online abuse because of the incident.

"Whatever he has done I don't condone, but what I'm getting really upset about is the garbage that's being put on social media," the man said.

"It's not fair. He's a stupid kid who doesn't realise what he's done."

The Swans also issued a statement, reiterating "our zero-tolerance stance on all forms of abuse".

Port coach Ken Hinkley said after the match that Aliir was OK following the incident.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley.
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley has asked that fans show respect towards all players. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)

It comes after Power teammate Willie Rioli was abused online last week and briefly took leave from the club.

Rioli also shut down his social media, in the wake of a strongly worded message he posted about his family history with Hawthorn.

"I think Aliir was OK with everything, so we'll work through it," Hinkley said.

"Let's respect our footballers. That's the most important thing.

"We've had a little bit of stuff go on over the journey, last few weeks particularly, and I think let them (players) do what they do.

"You come to watch them. Just admire them for what they are, I would have thought, and enjoy the game.

"If you can't do that, please don't come."

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.