Three WA men charged over a violent brawl at a Perth junior girls footy game

Three men will face court after a vicious brawl erupted on the sidelines of a junior girls’ AFL game in Perth last month. Two Forrestfield men, aged 18 and 50, were charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and are expected to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on August 30. A third man, a 54-year-old from Kewdale, was charged with disorderly behaviour and will face court on September 2. The fight broke out in the final minutes of a round 11 juniors game between Mt Lawley-Inglewood and High Wycombe at Hamer Park Reserve on July 26, which left several people injured. It’s understood several spectators became rowdy after a High Wycombe player received a yellow and subsequent red card for rough conduct on-field. Footage of the incident showed streams of other parents and supporters then swarming when the fighting started in an attempt to break up the altercation. Just days after the Mt Lawley brawl, parents had to be pulled apart after fighting at an Under-9s boys soccer match. The violent incidents prompted executives from 15 WA sporting codes and top Government Ministers to convene a crisis meeting on Wednesday to try to stem the frightening rise in sideline violence. Sports Minister David Templeman said he was disappointed by the conduct and welcomed a renewed commitment by sporting codes to stamp out violence at a grassroots level. The Western Australian Football Commission’s match review panel also suspended a string of people after the incident. In a statement, the WAFC said both clubs received a $500 fine for “bringing the game into disrepute” and will be required to undertake player education. The panel also suspended four players, two club officials and three spectators. One coach received a warning. However, it’s understood Mt Lawley-Inglewood have appealed the panel’s decision. The teams also lost four “e-points” — which refers to a sportsmanship scoring system designed to entice clubs to play fair or it affects their overall position on the ladder. One team was also placed on a good behaviour bond for the remainder of the season.