- The Front Bar co-host was confronted by a fan at the MCG
- Security stepped in and escorted the disruptive man away
Footage has emerged of an AFL fan involved in a heated altercation with commentator Andy Maher before being removed by security during the Carlton vs Melbourne match at the MCG over the weekend.
The Blues held on to claim a heart-stopping win over the Demons on Saturday night, but Maher – who is one of the team’s most high-profile fans – had his evening disrupted in startling fashion.
Vision shows a man, unsteady on his feet, get out of his seat and confront the popular Channel Seven star as he watched the match.
It is not known what the man said, but he could be seen touching Maher’s shoulder during the clash, as other fans yelled for security to have him removed.
A woman could be seen trying to de-escalate the situation before MCG security arrived and escorted the disruptive man away.
According to comments on social media from people who claimed to have witnessed the clash, Maher kept his cool throughout the encounter.
The Front Bar co-host Andy Maher (pictured right) was confronted by a fan at the MCG over the weekend
MCG security escorted the disruptive man away from the veteran commentator (Maher is pictured seated while guards speak to the fan)
‘….some deranged Dees supporter was having a crack at @AndyMaher behind me. Poor bloke was just trying to watch the game with his kids,’ posted an X user.
‘No idea what this was about with this drongo, but bravo to Andy for keeping a level head,’ replied another.
‘He’s lucky Andy’s a pacifist,’ said a third.
Meanwhile, Patrick Cripps led from the front and unsung forward Ashton Moir kicked four goals in the Blues’ 12.6 (78) to 10.10 (70) victory.
It ended Carlton’s four-match losing streak, improving their win-loss record to 7-11 for the season, and eased pressure on embattled coach Michael Voss.
But the biggest talking point out of the scrappy affair between two sides that won’t play finals was two-time All-Australian defender Steven May’s third-quarter clash with Francis Evans.
The two players attacked a loose ball from opposite directions and Evans arrived a fraction of a second earlier, taking possession before May clipped him high.
There did not appear to be any malice in the incident, though May’s shoulder made contact with Evans’ face and the Carlton forward was soon substituted out with concussion.
The Blues beat the Demons 12.6 (78) to 10.10 (70) at the MCG on Saturday night
The Blues were waiting on further assessment to determine whether Evans suffered any more damage.
‘Both players were in line with the ball and seemed to be attacking it … both sort of making a play at the ball and maybe one person was one step late,’ Carlton coach Michael Voss said.
‘Obviously then the incident happens, but for Frankie (Evans) to be able to hold his line with a pretty strong man coming the other way was a pretty important moment in the game.’
May, who had treatment on his sore right shoulder, faces the prospect of being suspended for several weeks over the incident.
But he will miss at least one match regardless of the match review officer’s findings, after being concussed himself from Tom De Koning’s accidental knee to the head in a marking contest late in the match.
‘Steve’s whole intent was to get the ball, clearly,’ Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said of the Evans collision.
‘You can see it when you slow it down, his whole intent was to get the ball.
‘It’s really unfortunate that you get a concussion in the game, and sometimes you can be concussed without (the player) being reported.
‘It’s going to be one of those ones where we’ll have to go through the process, but if you just look at his pure intent, it was purely for the ball and it was unfortunate.’
