Footy fans urged to dob in bad behaviour in crowd

FOOTY fans are being encouraged to dob in bad behaviour at games to avoid a repeat of violence which sent shock waves through the AFL.

About 85,000 people are expected at today’s Melbourne Cricket Ground’s showdown between Richmond and Collingwood, and police are talking tough following a fight between rival supporters in Geelong last weekend.

Commander Tim Hansen called on spectators to report those doing the wrong thing to officers at the MCG or via an app popular with AFL fans.

“Those that want to come to the game and drink to excess, or those that want to come to the game, pre-load and then disrupt the surrounds and the environment for other genuine spectators, we will have a response here ready for you.”

He added there had been seven assaults at AFL games this season but said the majority of fans were well behaved.

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan earlier ruled out segregating rival supporters following the post-match brawl between Melbourne and Geelong supporters last Saturday.

Membership and lifetime bans are on the cards for those found to have been involved, and a man has been voluntarily assisting police after recognising himself in social media footage of the fight.

The MCG’s event opera- tions general manager, Gerard Griffin, said the ground was equipped with more than 600 cameras to catch dodgy behaviour.

“It’s a combination of factors at play. You would like to prevent what happened at Geelong but even if there is a sign of trouble, you intercept early,” he said.