Port Adelaide star involved in heated clash with fan after the spectator threw object onto the field

Port Adelaide star Aliir Aliir was involved in a tense confrontation with a footy fan during his side’s victory against the Sydney Swans on Sunday after the fan appeared to throw an object onto the footy pitch.

The 30-year-old defender had rushed back to his goal line to deny Port Adelaide a major score.

His momentum carried him towards the fence where fans were sitting. One spectator, wearing a red and white shirt, hat and scarf, appeared to throw a cardboard clapper in his direction.

The object did not appear to hit the Port defender, but Aliir turned back before chastising the fan for the unsavoury act.

Tensions quickly settled, with Aliir walking back onto the field after sharing a few words with the fan.

It is understood that New South Wales Police are investigating the incident.

Adelaide Now reports that the individual was also seen speaking to members of the SCG’s security team after the incident.

Sydney have now confirmed that the spectator was removed by venue security staff. They are understood to have spoken to the individual alongside New South Wales police outside the ground.

‘A fan was removed from the stadium in the final quarter of Sunday’s match against Port Adelaide at the SCG, after throwing an object at Port Adelaide player Aliir Aliir,’ a spokesperson from the club said. 

‘The fan was removed from the venue and has been interviewed by police and SCG staff. The club is working to ascertain if the fan is a member.

‘The club has reached out to Aliir, and we will continue to educate fans that any form of abusive behaviour is not welcome.

‘The Sydney Swans would like to reiterate our zero tolerance stance on all forms of abuse.’

Swans CEO Tom Harley had been seen conversing with Aliir after full-time.

Channel 7 pundit Kane Cornes delivered his thoughts on the matter after the match, admiting his horror at the incident. 

‘I was horrified to see it. I thought we had moved past any fan interaction like this,’ Cornes said. 

‘Clearly it’s a young man, so you don’t want to go too hard on him. But to chuck the sign and get that close to Aliir – I mean, it’s lucky that was only a paper sign. 

‘But Aliir did the right thing and called him out and you can see the young man, you can see that he’s shocked, hopefully shocked in his own actions. I’m surprised security didn’t go over there and remove him.

‘You’d expect that he’s banned for at least a year, probably two years. You’d hope that the AFL come out strongly and make a real statement because we just can’t have that in the game.’ 

Port Adelaide went on to weather a late Sydney surge to claim an eight-point win in their preliminary final rematch, despite losing Ollie Wines to a recurrent heart problem.

Wines was substituted out of the match at halftime with an irregular heartbeat before Port posted a 13.7 (85) to 10.17 (77) result at the SCG on Saturday.

The 2021 Brownlow medallist had tried to continue playing after engaging in long discussions with the Power’s doctor in the second quarter.

But Wines withdrew soon after, replaced by club debutant Rory Atkins.

Wines has managed his heart condition since being diagnosed in 2022 and was last subbed out of a match in last year’s round 10 win over Hawthorn.

In his absence, Port skipper Connor Rozee (one goal, 27 disposals) again proved damaging, so much so that Swan’s tagger James Jordon was moved off his post at quarter-time.

Zak Butters also dominated with 27 disposals and seven clearances.

Willie Rioli, after a difficult week as the latest Indigenous AFL star to be racially abused, kicked three goals to help keep Sydney winless at their home ground this season.

Rioli was at the source of the opening major, releasing to Mitch Georgiades (three goals) inside 50, who then spotted an unmanned Sam Powell-Pepper (two) in the goal square.

Swans defender Nick Blakey was too slow to read the play, with Powell-Pepper easily slotting.

Isaac Heeney (two goals) pulled off a superb six-pointer from the pocket to reply but the visitors remained on top, enjoying a 4.2 (26) to 1.2 (8) lead at quarter-time.

Desperate to stop the Port ascendancy, Swans boss Dean Cox moved to the bench in the second term and called Blakey, Justin McInerney, Oliver Florent and Hayden McLean into a mid-quarter huddle.

Blakey took Cox’s words to heart and pulled off three electric runs down the corridor, but he fluffed his shots at goal.

Port midfielder Willem Drew slotted a goal within 10 seconds of the second-half siren before the Swans came to life to kick three-straight majors.

Swans substitute Aaron Francis then kicked three consecutive goals himself in the final term to help reduce the deficit to 16 points.

It became 10 when McClean goaled in the 31st minute but while surging, the Swans could add only three more behinds as their comeback fell short.