Sickening coward punch sparks all-in brawl in Victorian country Aussie Rules match but fans are divided over who was in the wrong
- Incident occurred in MPFNL Div 2 match
- Tyabb Yabbies were playing Rye Demons
- Tensions boiled over in a close match
Violence has marred a Victorian bush footy match after an apparent coward punch sparked a wild all-in brawl.
The Tyabb Yabbies and the Rye Demons were facing off in round one of the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League [MPFNL] Division Two Seniors competition when the incident occured.
With the Yabbies leading by just three points in the third quarter, tensions boiled over and punches were thrown that saw a Rye Demons match sent from the field.
In the video, Tyabb player Samuel Fox gets up off the ground remonstrating against perceived foul play and appearing to throw an open-palmed swipe at Rye player Mason James.
James then landed a devastating punch to the side of Fox’s head who immediately crumpled to the ground.
Players begin to brawl in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League match as Fox remains on the ground checking his mouth after being punched in the head
While players cannot be sent from the field at AFL level, a yellow and red card system applies in the MPFNL and the on-field umpire did not hesitate to issue James with a yellow card.
‘Good umpire, It should be a red,’ a fan on the sideline is heard yelling.
‘Coward punch.’
The video has attracted scrutiny on social media, with many footy fans arguing that the Tyabb player was also in the wrong for throwing the first punch.
‘Are your eyes painted on the other bloke threw the first punch,’ one fan posted.
‘Don’t punch someone in the back of the head while they’re on the deck,’ posted another.
‘To be fair, they’re both cowards,’ added another.
Some football fans are saying that the Tyabb player threw the first punch while the players were on the ground
As the players got up and squared off, Rye Demons player Mason James threw a punch that knocked the Tyabb player to the ground
The incident comes just one week after another MPNFL Division 2 match had to be called off after a player was knocked out cold.
Reuben Hanson, a 19-year-old ruckman for Karingal, suffered a suspected broken collarbone and was knocked out during a tackle just before halftime in a match against Mornington at Alexandra Park.
Medical assistance was required, and the game was held up for more than an hour while an ambulance arrived to transport Hanson to Frankston hospital.
The umpires made the decision to abandon the game with Mornington leading Karingal 22-19.