‘Slapped on the arse by complete stranger’: Crows fan cops stadium ban
An Adelaide Crows fan who slapped Western Bulldogs captain Easton Wood on the behind during a clash at Adelaide Oval has been banned from the stadium for the remainder of the season.
The Adelaide Football Club, together with the Stadium Management Authority, released a statement on Wednesday — following an investigation into the incident which occurred during the round nine clash between the Crows and Bulldogs last Friday.
In the incident, a Crows fan reached over the fence and made contact with Wood when he got close to the oval boundary just before half time.
An investigation has identified the man, who was not a club member — and the SMA has banned him from attending AFL games at Adelaide Oval for the remainder of the season.
"The Adelaide Football Club along with the Stadium Management Authority have completed an investigation into a crowd behaviour incident at Adelaide Oval on Friday night," the statement said.
"The investigation has identified the fan, who is not a club member and had borrowed the ticket from an acquaintance.
"The SMA has banned the person involved from attending AFL games at Adelaide Oval for the rest of the season."
The Crows member who lent the ticket to his acquaintance was "extremely remorseful" and received a warning from the club.
Following the ban, the Adelaide Football Club took the opportunity to remind members who lend their tickets out — to remind others about responsible behaviour at games.
The club also said the AFL was pleased with the investigation and the outcome.
"The AFL was kept informed during the entire investigation and is satisfied with the outcome," the statement said.
Wood, who captained the Bulldogs to the 2016 AFL premiership — said he was fine following the incident, but hoped it would not happen again.
"I didn't say anything, [and] I certainly wasn't hurt or anything like that," he told Channel 7 following the incident.
"I was a bit surprised. My preference would be to able to go to work and not get slapped on the arse by a complete stranger."
The Adelaide Crows will return to Adelaide Oval in round 11 — when they welcome the GWS Giants on Sunday, June 3.
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