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Violent fans could face bans

The Great Northern Football League says it will look to ban violent football fans involved in a fight at Rovers Football Club on Sunday where a Mullewa team bus was pelted with rocks and stubbies.

Saints president Brett Delnero yesterday said he and Demons president Norm Potter were “gutted” about the incident.

Geraldton police Sgt Mark Adams said police were investigating a complaint where a man was allegedly bashed.

League president Colin Cox said a Shire of Yalgoo bus was smashed after Mullewa’s 67-point win over the Demons at Sinosteel Midwest Oval.

He said the GNFL would conduct an inquiry after a meeting between Rovers and Saints officials last night.

“Depending on what comes out of that, we may look to take some steps to stop this type of thing happening again and that could involve stopping these people from attending games,” he said yesterday.

Mr Cox said young children were also on the bus when it was vandalised.

Shire of Yalgoo chief executive Sharon Daishe said a rear-view mirror was smashed.

She welcomed any action by the clubs and the league which stamped out “inappropriate behaviour”.

Mr Cox said he understood the incident occurred after awards presentations took place inside the clubrooms.

“It’s not the image we want for football,” he said.

“We’ve had one tribunal all year which is great, we’re trying to make the game attractive to parents and children.”

In 2010, the Saints and Demons locked horns when a game was abandoned in Mullewa after on-field fights.

Mullewa, which this year introduced contracts to improve the club’s discipline, has revealed it will also ban any members who may have been involved.

Mr Delnero yesterday said he and Mr Potter were united in their disgust over Sunday’s incident.

“Myself and Norm Potter are both gutted by what happened,” he said.

“If people want to go to the football and act like this they should be prepared to face the consequences.

We want to send a message to people that think they can get away with stuff like this.”

Mr Potter believed a minority was at fault and echoed concerns from the Saints’ camp.

“Neither club condones this sort of thing. We’re disappointed,” he said.

“We don’t want it on the football field or in the community.”