A supporter in his 70s passed away at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) during Thursday night’s AFL match between Carlton and Richmond.
The medical emergency occurred on the fourth level of the AFL Reserve as the final siren sounded around 10:15pm. Fellow fans immediately attempted to revive the man, believed to be a Richmond Tigers supporter, while stadium medical staff rushed to the scene. Despite their efforts, he could not be saved.
Victoria Police confirmed the incident in a statement: “Emergency services tried to revive the man at a sports ground on Brunton Avenue about 10:15pm. He sadly died at the scene. The death is not being treated as suspicious.” Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.
A nearby witness described the man cheering loudly for Richmond during the first half before the tragedy unfolded.
Thrilling On-Field Action
Carlton secured a narrow four-point victory over a fast-finishing Richmond in front of 74,313 fans. Blues coach Michael Voss expressed satisfaction with the win: “It doesn’t matter where you are on the ladder…the reality is, these games are always hard-fought. The competition isn’t settled yet, so these sorts of wins are really important.”
Richmond coach Adam Yze reflected on his team’s performance: “We weren’t up to standard early on and our players know that. We just obviously gave them too much of a start. As a coach, at halftime when you’re that far behind, all you can ask for is a response. I’m really proud of the boys’ effort to provide that…we gave ourselves a chance to win the game.”
The AFL and Richmond Tigers have not yet issued official comments on the supporter’s death.
