It brought back memories of Port Adelaide’s run-in with a shirtless spectator at the club’s AFL European Challenge at the Oval in London last November.
Donning a tiger mask and shedding his shirt in temperatures below 10 degrees, the effectiveness of his disguise was only held back by his robust frame, which was hunted down by a number of ground security officials.
Of course, the sport of Australian Football is no stranger to invasions of the pitch and Port has a history of whipping up hysteria sufficient to luring fans from their seats and onto the field.
The number of times a crowd flooded the field after Scotty Hodges bagged another century of goals during Port’s SANFL heyday is more than can be counted on one hand.
But other greats attracted their own on-ground followings.
Andy Porplycia had a kick after the siren against Glenelg on Anzac Day 1982 to draw the match, amidst spectators streaming toward him from all corners of Football Park.
It was very much the norm, back in the day.
Times change though and full crowd invasions are uncharacteristic in the modern game.
But Port did experience one such event back in 2004, when the AAMI Stadium crowd flooded the ground after St Kilda’s Fraser Gehrig kicked his 100th goal for the season in the preliminary final.
The Saints had the momentum until that stage and the interruption would certainly have been unwelcome.
Port of course would go on to win that nail-biter and book a place in the 2004 Grand Final.
There have been similar incidents to that of Wednesday’s Origin decider too.
An enthusiastic fan jumped out from the stand behind the goals at Patersons Stadium during Port’s match against Fremantle in 2012 and got about 10 metres before being pounced on by security.
In 2008 a Western Bulldogs fan and self-proclaimed ‘streaking enthusiast’ gave the Port players and 11,000 other Territorians some alternative action after three-quarter-time.
The numerous police charges against him and ban from attending future AFL games may have sapped some enjoyment from his night.
In 2004 the Power played in another interrupted match with St Kilda, but this time it was a minor round fixture at Aurora Stadium, where one brave soul left little to the imagination for player and spectator alike.
Given the July temperature averages about 12 degrees in Launceston, he would have certainly wanted a decent heater in whatever room ground security detained him.
Of course, streaker and pitch invaders might think their antics are all fun and games, but it is usually the police and security services who have the last laugh.
Pitch invaders often face life bans while police can and often do lay charges against streakers for everything from trespass to offensive or disorderly behaviour in a public place.
And of course, venue operators and the league itself reserve the right to hand out lengthy or life bans.
Perhaps they should stick to watching the entertainment on the field, rather than creating some of their own.
