'What a joke': AFL fans divided over latest crowd problems

Crowd violence has again reared its ugly head in the AFL after amateur footage captured a confrontation involving fans and police at Marvel Stadium.

The unsavoury scenes painted a sorry aftermath to a pulsating game between Carlton and the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.

Mobile phone vision showed police breaking up a fight between fans, with some supporters seen trying to punch one another over the top of the officers.

Someone from the stand above then tips a drink on top of the sparring fans and the police officers, while they are escorting the offenders out of the stadium.

Eyewitnesses claim the fight started after Bulldogs fans taunted Carlton supporters, following the thrilling three-point win.

Police told the Herald Sun they had not made any arrests but their investigation was ongoing.

“Police responded to number of people pushing each other in the vicinity of aisle 12 at Docklands Stadium about 10.10pm on Saturday night,” a police spokesperson said.

“Police separated a number of people and obtained their details. The incident is still being investigated and police are yet to identify all involved.”

The crowd issues were a major talking point throughout the contest, with Channel Seven cameras picking up a heavy security presence.

There were concerns authorities went a little over-the-top with their crowd surveillance, as “behavioural awareness officers” could be seen constantly patrolling the stands throughout the match.

The latest incident comes after AFL boss Gillon McLachlan issuing a statement insisting the league was not cracking down on fans, despite a Carlton fan being kicked out of the MCG for labelling an umpire a ‘bald-headed flog’, while a Magpies fan was cautioned by police for reportedly ‘barracking too loudly’.

The issue has sparked plenty of debate between fans on social media around whether the AFL is doing enough or whether they’ve gone over the top in the response to crowd trouble.

Curnow stars in losing display

The ugly scenes took the gloss off what was a tremendous match as Charlie Curnow kicked seven goals for Carlton in a superb losing effort.

The Western Bulldogs managed to stave off a stunning late rally to keep their AFL season alive with a pulsating win.

The Dogs led by 34 points late in the last quarter but the brave Blues rattled home with the last five goals of Saturday night's see-sawing contest in front of 35,479 fans.

Curnow brought the margin back to three points when the young star kicked his seventh goal with just under three minutes remaining, but the Dogs hung on to claim their fifth win of the season - 15.13 (103) to 15.10 (100).

Carlton's last, desperate forward thrust with under 30 seconds left was snuffed out when Josh Dunkley was awarded a free kick for high contact just outside the Blues' attacking 50.

In a night of wild momentum swings, the Dogs coughed up a 34-point lead to trail by seven points late in the third quarter.

They climbed off the canvas to restore that advantage with the first four goals of the final term, but Carlton - a different beast under David Teague - came again and only just fell short of a second win under the caretaker coach.

Dunkley was brilliant for the Dogs with 41 possessions and 10 tackles, while Jack Macrae (37 disposals) and Patrick Lipinski (29) also chipped in.

"I'm just really proud of the way that they stuck at it," Dogs coach Luke Beveridge said.

"We got our noses back in front at three-quarter time and, especially this year, we haven't always been that sound in close games.

"So the ways the boys pulsed and got that margin was terrific."

The Dogs were short-handed for most of the night after Tom Liberatore left the game with a jarred knee in the second quarter. He will undergo scans but the club are optimistic he hasn't ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament.

Curnow was the star for the Blues, but his brother Ed was crucial in the attempted fightback, curbing Marcus Bontempelli's influence when he went to him early in the second term.

Patrick Cripps almost lifted his team over the line again with 22 disposals and Sam Walsh (22) continued to build his case for the rising star award.

The Bulldogs led by 19 points at the first break and they should've been further in front.

The Blues looked wobbly as the margin stretched to 34 points, but a team-lifting major to Matthew Kreuzer helped to drag them back to 21 points at halftime.

It narrowed to six points at the last change after Curnow inspired Carlton with three majors in the third quarter.

The Dogs appeared to have the game in hand before the Blues snapped out of their late torpor only to be denied in the frantic final moments.

"I was proud of the comeback but we're here to win," Teague said.

"I thought we were a really good chance to win if we executed and we didn't quite execute well enough."

With AAP