The Courier |
UMPIRES have abandoned the CHFL senior encounter between Hepburn and Beaufort early in the last quarter after a melee.
The Courier's correspondent John McGregor, who was at Hepburn covering the match, said the umpires made the call after a "rolling melee" formed 10 minutes into the term.
Hepburn was in full control of the contest at the time, leading 16.13 (109) to Beaufort's 3.2 (20).
Central Highlands Football League administrator Gerard Ryan said the scores would remain, given the match was called off after half time.
The melee occurred after Hepburn star Andy McKay was yellow carded for wrestling, but he refused to leave the field.
The melee, involving almost every player on the field, then broke out.
It is understood former AFL star Glenn Manton was was at the centre of the melee.
McGregor said the umpires tried to break up the fight by throwing up the ball, but were ignored by all the players.
The match was abandoned soon after, with Hepburn holding a 89 point lead, and subsequently winning by that margin.
Ryan said the CHFL would hold an investigation into the incident.
