By BEN CAMERON
CASEY Cardinia Football League will investigate an alleged brawl which followed the preliminary final between Narre Warren and Cranbourne at Holm Park Reserve on Saturday.
A series of altercations followed an incident in which a Beaconsfield supporter taunted a Narre Warren player from the balcony of the clubrooms.
Long-time supporter and player Graham Hooper says he regrets sledging Narre Warren full forward Kerem Baskaya, which helped create a fracas during which Beaconsfield player Kane Hughes was punched in the milling crowd.
Hooper said “all hell broke loose” after making a comment which he claims merely repeated what Baskaya had allegedly said to Beaconsfield players the previous week.
A scoreboard mistake had initially given Narre Warren an extra point and the win which prompted Baskaya to allegedly accuse Beaconsfield of choking.
However the error was quickly corrected and a point was eventually awarded to the Eagles to seal a one-point victory.
Hooper said he was no agitator but merely had been trying to be witty.
“Heavy language is no good, I was trying to be a bit clever,” he said.
“I was just repeating what he said to us last week.
“I said three words: ‘Did you choke?’.”
However Hooper was apologetic for triggering the ugly scenes.
“I feel really bad about it. It was a spur of the moment thing,” he said.
“We all get emotional
“I regret saying it. If I could go back I wouldn’t have said it.
“They say I’m the catalyst but this kind of stuff happens all the time.”
A Star photographer said the atmosphere was like a “tinderbox”.
Hooper said he ducked inside the clubrooms after beer cans were allegedly thrown in his direction following his comment.
“A shower of cans went up, I took refuge in the clubrooms. What happened after that I have no idea,” he said.
A Narre Warren trainer had complained his daughter had been hit by a can, Hooper said.
“I think what may have happened is that a can was thrown, hit the railing, and came back down,” he said.
“I’m the last bloke to throw something.
“I’m disappointed for Beaconsfield’s sake.
“I’m worried about what the ramifications could be. I want to protect the club.
“There had been no issue before then, it was a great game of football.”
Pakenham police said there had been a report of a brawl between patrons on their way to the Central Hotel but no reports of assault at the ground.
A Casey Cardinia Football League spokesperson said the matter was under investigation.
“We are aware of an incident,” he said.
Narre Warren football club declined to comment.
