The real reason behind furious final-siren scuffle

A furious scuffle between Melbourne’s Neville Jetta and West Coast’s Mark LeCras after the final siren on Sunday confused footy fans.

Demons coach Simon Goodwin, however, believes it was little more than a football incident.

Many thought the anger in both players’ eyes were out of character – especially so in Jetta’s case given the Demons had just secured a first finals berth since 2006.

While LeCras might have been frustrated with the defeat, the clash left fans wondering why Jetta felt the need to continue remonstrating.

In between celebrating the victory and looking ahead to Melbourne’s massive game with GWS next week that will decide their finals placing, Goodwin addressed the incident with what he believed to be the true version of events.

“There’s no issue there. I think it’s just two competitive people,” he told reporters.

“I think they were disputing if it was a mark or not.

“It was two competitive people who were playing right to the end, so yeah, nothing in it.”

The Demons’ 13th win of the season secured their spot in the AFL finals, ending the club’s 12-year drought.

Melbourne entered the match with the unenviable record of being 0-7 against the competition’s top nine sides this season.

“I think it’s just a step for our footy club,” Goodwin said of securing a top-eight berth.

“It’s emotional because as a coach and a playing group you feel that expectation.

“You feel that added pressure because we have had 12 years without playing finals.”

with AAP