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Pitch invader at AFL grand final outed as Aussie Olympian's cousin

Sam Goodwin
·Sports Editor
·3-min read
Abra Bol, pictured here being taken down by security guards after running into the field during the AFL grand final.
Abra Bol was taken down by security guards after running into the field during the AFL grand final. Image: Getty

The man who ran onto the field in his underwear during the AFL grand final has been revealed as the cousin of Aussie Olympic hero Peter Bol.

The man was wearing nothing but his undies when he invaded the field at Optus Stadium on Saturday night during the Demons' win over the Western Bulldogs.

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The pitch invader jumped the fence at the city end of the ground before running through the middle of the oval with a number of security guards in hot pursuit.

He managed to evade a few of the security guards before being brought down in a heavy tackle.

The 22-year-old man has since been identified as Abra Bol, the cousin of 800m runner Peter Bol.

Abra shared footage of his stunt on social media on Sunday.

“Crowd with 100k people, million-plus people watching,” he wrote.

“First ever to do a streak in a AFL Grand Final in Perth, You Only Live Once Fu** It.”

Peter Bol commented: “Mate I was not training you for this", to which Abra replied: “You didn’t know but you was.”

Abra Bol, pictured here running onto the field in his underwear during the AFL grand final.
Abra Bol ran onto the field in his underwear during the AFL grand final. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Abra is now facing up to $12,000 in fines - the maximum punishment for running onto the field at Optus Stadium.

He is also likely to be banned from Optus Stadium, not that he seemed to mind.

“You can’t ban me if I’m sneaking in,” he wrote.

Bol was charged by West Australian Police with trespass and will appear in court on October 5.

According to The West Australian, staff at Optus Stadium underwent specific training before the grand final on how to stop and restrain pitch invaders.

A total of seven security guards got involved before carrying the man from the field and into the waiting arms of police.

Peter Bol goes viral at Tokyo Olympics

Peter Bol captured the hearts of Australians all around the country when he stormed into the 800m final at the Tokyo Olympics.

The 27-year-old gave himself every chance to win the gold with a brave display of front-running, only to come up just short and finish fourth.

The Sudanese-born Aussie surged into the lead with 450 metres to run, only to be mowed down by the two-pronged Kenyan challenge of Emmanuel Korir and Ferguson Rotich in the final straight.

"The goal was to win so we didn't get the job done," said Bol, who was born in Sudan and spent six years in Egypt as a youngster before arriving in Australia with his family as a 10-year-old.

Peter Bol, pictured here in action at the Tokyo Olympics.
Peter Bol in action at the Tokyo Olympics. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images) (Corbis via Getty Images)

"But I'm proud of where we are, we're here and the best part of this is that it has not been a journey just about myself, but having the whole nation behind me.

"That's power in sports and we did that tonight. It was tough because you know some of those guys have got better PBs than me.

"I felt strength from the whole nation behind me. I'm disappointed with fourth at the Olympics.

"Five years ago I ran 1:49 and got knocked out in the first round. But we want more for ourselves.

"To Australia I’m thankful, and to everyone in Australia because we’re just human at the end of the day. We inspired the whole nation and that’s the goal.”

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