The AFL is looking into an incident between Sydney small forward Tom Papley and GWS footy boss Jason McCartney during their qualifying final on Saturday.
Tensions boiled over between the bitter rivals at quarter-time, when players from both sides were tangled in an aggressive fracas.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Jason McCartney and Tom Papley come together as tensions boil over.
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The fight broke out after the siren following a free kick to Papley, who was thrown to the ground by Toby Greene after attempting to kick a torpedo from 60 metres out.
Papley and Greene were suddenly going after each other, with Dane Rampe on Greene’s back and Josh Kelly on Rampe — and so it went as more players joined in.
“The two teams let off some steam after a tense opening term, and the two main agitators in the midst of it,” Jason Bennett said.
“I believe the technical term might be: ‘Two teams that hate each other’s guts’,” Bennett joked.
It took the players some minutes to split the tussle up, with scores still not settled as both teams were walking off the ground.
But an ugly moment emerged when Channel 7 commentators spotted McCartney getting involved in the action.
The Giants’ head of footy appeared to have good intentions when he walked into the chaos, trying to break things up, but he got caught in the crosshairs when Papley bumped into his chest.
The fiery Swans goal kicker refused to deviate from his line as he charged towards the boundary, making contact with McCartney on the way through.
McCartney wasn’t looking at Papley when the contact was made, and avoided further altercation by keeping his eyes off the Swans star even after it happened, but Papley looked ready for a heated moment.
He stared up at McCartney, expecting to have his angry gaze met, but dropped the issue when it wasn’t.
A spokesperson for the AFL told 7NEWS.com.au on Sunday morning the league would deliver its findings of the incident on Monday.
“I don’t think an official should be in that position on the ground during those situations,” James Brayshaw said during Seven’s coverage on Saturday.
“You’ve got to read the play and know that there’s been a blue and keep yourself away from it. If it does need to be sorted out, you’ve got officials on the ground who can do that.
“I don’t think he’ll have an issue but looking back he’ll probably say ‘I shouldn’t have been where I was’.”
Matthew Richardson didn’t think McCartney would have a problem either, but said it’s still not a good look.
“There’s not much in that. I’m not sure Jason probably should be out there; he should just be getting down to the rooms and let the players sort themselves out,” Richardson said.
Jude Bolton added: “I don’t think he should be in there, Papley’s been looking to chest everyone on the field.”
Luke Darcy concluded: “We want to keep the officials out of that; Jason might’ve had a bit of muscle memory.”
The AFL has taken a dim view of coaches getting involved with players — Geelong coach Chris Scott was handed a suspended fine for exchanging words with Lions star Lachie Neale in 2021.
Clubs received a fresh warning on the conduct of non-players earlier this year.
Essendon runner Travis Cloke, a Collingwood premiership hero, got involved to separate Bombers players during a scuffle with Sydney.
Cloke avoided a formal please explain.
