West Coast star Reuben Ginbey has opened up on being bizarrely struck by a lemon in the moments after his side’s win over Essendon on Sunday night as a probe into the incident continues.

Shortly after the final siren sounded to confirm his side’s 30-point victory over the Bombers, Ginbey was struck on the hand by the piece of citrus fruit, which he was captured rolling back towards the boundary line on Channel Seven’s broadcast.

Investigations by the AFL and Optus Stadium into the act remain ongoing, and the member of the crowd responsible is set to face a ban if identified.

Speaking to the media after extending his contract with West Coast through to 2030 on Wednesday, Ginbey described the incident as “a bit of a funny one”.

“It didn’t hurt or anything, but it was just a shock. I felt something hit me and (it was) a lemon and I rolled it back to the crowd,” Ginbey said.

“That was a new one. I don’t know where it came from — maybe the Essendon race — but we got the win, so that’s alright.

“It’s probably lucky it didn’t hit me in the head or the eye or something. It didn’t bother me personally, but I think we don’t want things being thrown from the crowds, especially hard objects like lemons.

“Hopefully, we don’t see that again.”

Optus Stadium’s conditions of entry include the right to remove and ban fans who throw objects onto the field.

Items being hurled from the crowd in the direction of players and umpires has occurred with increasing regularity at AFL games in recent years.

In 2024, a Carlton member was banned from attending AFL games for life after throwing a water bottle which struck goal umpire Steven Piperno during a game against St Kilda.

A Sydney fan was handed a two-year ban from the SCG after tossing a cardboard clapper at Port Adelaide’s Aliir Aliir in 2025, while a soft drink bottle was hurled in the direction of Nick Watson as the Hawthorn star celebrated a win over Sydney earlier this season.