MANDURAH’S top cop has blasted the behaviour of thugs who started a brawl at the Peel Football League grand final on Sunday.
Violence broke out late in the fourth quarter at Bendigo Bank Stadium with up to 30 people spilling onto the ground as play was suspended between South Mandurah and Waroona.
Two people were hospitalised as a result of the fight which took security guards and up to 20 police officers to break up.
“I’m really quite angry members of the public were exposed to that kind of drunken, unruly behaviour,” Senior-sergeant Glen Willers said.
“It disappoints me and it does nothing for Mandurah’s image.”
The brawl was understood to have been fuelled by alcohol with snr-sgt Willers questioning the need for the on-site bar to be open so early during the day.
“Why is it necessary to open bars at 10 o’clock in the morning,” he said.
“I know they’ve applied through the right processes, but these are the consequences.
“We as a community have to question what do we actually value here?
“A game of football? Or a day out drinking in the hot sun?”
Snr-sgt Willers said the impact such violence had on his officers and staff at Peel Health Campus was immeasurable.
“We have got to say this behaviour in our town is not acceptable,” he said.
South Mandurah ultimately won the game, but with news of the brawl making national news, their victory has been overshadowed by the violence on the day.
