 Fitzgibbon had been suspended for four matches for striking 's Len Hustler in the preliminary final, so was watching the Grand Final from the outer; during the final quarter melee, he jumped the fence, ran to the melee and attempted to strike a South Melbourne player before being escorted from the ground by police.He was suspended for a further four matches.The game drew condemnation in the media, and headlines around the country for its roughness.