Melbourne's Harrison Petty appeared visibly upset at three-quarter time by comments from a Brisbane player during Friday night’s game.
It has been reported the player that made those comments was Brisbane captain Dayne Zorko.
Despite enjoying a 70-point lead at the time and the knowledge his side would almost certainly secure a double chance in the upcoming finals series, the defender needed to be consoled at the final break.
The Channel Seven broadcast captured him being supported by assistant coaches Mark Williams and Troy Chaplin away from teammates.
Harrison Petty was emotional at 3QT - hopefully, everything is okay 🙏 pic.twitter.com/O7Mbjcz90R
— 7AFL (@7AFL) August 19, 2022
Mebourne GM of footy Alan Richardson addressed the controversy after the game.
“'Petts' (Petty) thought he heard something that was probably over the top in reference to a member of his family,” Richardson told Seven post-game.
“We actually don’t have all the information so it would be unfair of me to say anything with respect to Brisbane.
“I went over to Danny Daly (Brisbane GM of football) at the break just to let him know that it happened and if it had happened they might want to sort it out.”
Melbourne General Manager Alan Richardson on the Dayne Zorko, Harrison Petty incident.
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) August 19, 2022
✍️ MATCH REPORT https://t.co/JwB8DuoTCw
🔢 MATCH CENTRE https://t.co/ymD18AK1dK pic.twitter.com/CYJKf7uEyB
Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin said the AFL would now look at the incident, but added Petty was "fine".
“Petts thought he heard something inappropriate about a family member he was a bit upset about it,” Goodwin said.
“Brisbane have spoken to us and obviously the AFL will look at it. That’s pretty much the details we’ll give at the moment and we’ll just hand it over to the AFL.”
Melbourne’s 58-point win came in fiery circumstances, both Brisbane and the Demons trading physical and verbal blows throughout the match with Lions skipper Zorko among the chief antagonisers.
Brisbane players including Steven May were captured on the broadcast exchanging tense words with Zorko at the final siren.
Interesting scenes at full-time at the Gabba. pic.twitter.com/fCmPMTuBl7
— 7AFL (@7AFL) August 19, 2022
May spoke to AFL Nation post-game and confirmed he brought the incident up with Zorko.
"I don't know exactly what was said, but Petts wasn't like he normally is. He's a tough country boy if you know him, not much rattles him," May said.
"I had a chat to Zorko at the end and told him whatever you said, you crossed the line. He was pretty remorseful but he told me he didn't say it, I think there was a misunderstanding.
"There's a line that you don't cross on-field.
"For one of my teammates to be upset, it pinched a nerve."
"I don't know exactly what was said, but Petts wasn't like he normally is. He's a tough country boy if you know him, not much rattles him."
— AFL Nation (@AFLNation) August 19, 2022
- Steven May on the incident with Zorko and Petty#AFLLionsDees
Petty spent the majority of the clash on Brisbane forward Eric Hipwood and kept him scoreless for the game.
Brisbane's Danny Daly explains what happened tonight. #AFLLionsDees pic.twitter.com/h36aT77owU
— AFL (@AFL) August 19, 2022