Aussie rules match ends in 60 strong brawl

The brawl began after the players returned to the changing rooms. Photo / Thinkstock

A wild brawl involving 60 players and spectators broke out after an umpire awarded a free kick at the end of a drawn country Victorian Aussie rules game.

The melee started on the Portland ground at the end of the Westerns-Dartmoor seniors Aussie rules game on Saturday afternoon.

It resumed after players left the field and a spectator was knocked unconscious as the violence spread.

The on-field brawl came after an umpire awarded a free kick because players and officials standing near the coach's box refused to move back from the boundary line.

Police said a second brawl involving up to 60 players and spectators began after the players returned to the changing rooms.

"Then a third brawl broke out in front of the change rooms involving spectators, and that's when the man was injured," a police spokeswoman said.

The 36-year-old Portland man was punched in the face and knocked out. He was taken to hospital but released on Saturday night.

South West District Football Netball League vice-president Robert Chandler said the melee escalated as fans joined in.

"Spectators were getting involved and it just got out of hand.

"It just got worse and worse and kept going."

Chandler said a group of players and officials were standing at the boundary line near the coach's box and were warned by the umpire to stand back.

"He asked them about three times and they wouldn't move. A free kick was awarded and then they started abusing ... The siren went and it all escalated from there."

Chandler said the umpires had lodged five reports over the brawls, which started about 4.30pm local time at Alexandra Park in Portland in Victoria's far southwest.

Both sides have been reported for engaging in a melee.

Chandler said a Dartmoor club official was cited on a serious charge involving an umpire, while the club's playing coach was reported for striking.

The league's tribunal will convene tomorrow night.

The decision to award the free kick did not change the outcome of the game, with both sides ending on 71 points.

Dartmoor sits on top of the South West District ladder after round 10, while Westerns are in fifth spot.

- AAP