Footy finals fight charges brought

POLICE have charged three people following violent behaviour at the Casey-Cardinia football grand final at Berwick on Saturday.
The three men were arrested after a fight broke out in the designated “wet area” – in front of the Edwin Flack Reserve social rooms – after the final siren of the senior match.
No one was injured in the scuffle that was brought under control by the many police officers present on the day.
Police said they were pleased with the majority of the crowd, estimated at about 6000, and the behaviour throughout the day.
The crowd, who watched Narre Warren defeat Pakenham by 17 points, was well down on previous years.
Acting Senior Sergeant Phil Atkins said there were very few issues on the day with the 20 police officers on duty having little to deal with other than the one scuffle.
He said the strict new liquor licensing laws introduced at Edwin Flack Reserve during this year’s Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League finals series had worked well.
However, many seasoned football followers disagreed.
Two of the men arrested, a 20-year-old Pakenham man and a 36-year-old Berwick man, have both been charged with assaulting police, being drunk in a public place and resisting arrest.
A 21-year-old Narre Warren man has been charged with being drunk in a public place and hindering police.
The three men were taken back to Narre Warren Police Station where they were bailed to appear before Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 15 February.