Sport: Australian Football Category: Scores & Results

Hawks coach frustrated after Brisbane win amid fan backlash

The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 20, 2026, 1:18 AM

Last updated Sep 20, 2026

Hawks coach frustrated after Brisbane win amid fan backlash

Summary

Hawthorn's coach Sam Mitchell expressed intense frustration following their loss to Brisbane in an AFL final on September 19, 2026. The match, characterized as one of the great finals, ended with significant disappointment for Hawks fans, culminating in bottle-throwing incidents directed at umpires as they exited the MCG. Mitchell labeled the feeling of defeat as 'the pits' amid reports of heated discussions between Hawks players and officials. The AFL Fans Association criticized the fan behavior, describing it as an 'ugly look for our game.'

Source Links

The Guardian Sport

By the Numbers

•Sam Mitchell calls the loss 'the pits'
•Hawthorn fans booed at the MCG after the defeat
•Players vent frustrations at umpires post-match
•Fan behavior included throwing bottles at umpires
•AFL Fans Association condemns the incidents

Latest Updates

1:18 AMThe Guardian Sport — Hawks coach wanted to ‘scream with rage’ after epic AFL final, as fans criticised for throwing bottles

What they're saying

"
Sam Mitchell says ‘this feeling is the pits’ after loss to Brisbane AFL Fans Association says bottle throwing an ‘ugly look for our game’ Brisbane and Hawthorn fought out one of the all-time great AFL finals, but when the siren sounded the biggest noise in the MCG was the booing. Hawks players James Sicily, Tom Barrass and Jack Ginnivan had angry words with the umpires, who then had bottles thrown at them from Hawks fans as they left the stadium on Saturday night. Continue reading...
— The Guardian Sportby Guardian sport and AAP

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