"We don't want our fans to feel intimidated."
That was the response by Marvel Stadium CEO Michael Green in the wake of an increased security presence on Saturday night.
Aisles at the stadium were regularly patrolled during the game between Western Bulldogs and Carlton.
Fans were taken aback by the presence of 'Behavioural Awareness Officers' at the game, which the Bulldogs won by three points.
MORE: Marvel Stadium security make their presence known in Carlton-Bulldogs clash
Dramas then escalated when police had to break up a brawl between fans after the final siren.
It was an ugly scene - video footage posted to social media shows police intervening as a man was held back, while drinks were poured on them from above.
A witness told News Corp the fight was triggered by a Bulldogs supporter who "mouthed off" after the game.
This was the AFL Members fight after the siren Tom Browne was talking about. Ironically security were nowhere near it until near the end... #AFLBluesDogs pic.twitter.com/MT5xqloaad
— Chris Kaias (@ChrisKaias) June 15, 2019
It all comes in the aftermath of a number of crowd-related incidents at games. As recently as last week, a spectator was ejected after abusing an umpire.
Speaking on 3AW, Green was adamant there had been no increase in security numbers at the ground in the recent past.
However, later speaking on SEN, Green admitted he didn't want visiting fans to feel "intimidated".
He also said the "conscious decision" made to "make our fans feel safer by an increase in visibility" was the stadium's call, not the AFL's.
"Clearly it's reached a point where fans are feeling intimidated by the patrolling of the aisles, and it's something we'll have to review," he said.
"Categorically it's a stadium decision. We haven't had any directive [from the league].
"We have increased our visibility. Clearly we've gone too far, and it's something we’ll review.
"We made a conscious decision to make our fans feel safer by an increase in visibility.
"We don't want our fans to feel intimidated."
