Australian Football Association of North America

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

In 1975, a massive brawl broke out during a game between Carlton and Essendon with no one really knowing what sparked the mayhem. On the eve of the Heritage Round, former Bomber Neville Fields has finally confessed he is the one who may have instigated the brawl which resulted in eight players being reported.

Fields, now living on the Gold Coast, said he regrets his role in the incident which left talented young Carlton forward Craig Davis unconscious, and later led to his retirement. Fields, who reckons he would have copped a six-week suspension today, said he over-reacted to something Davis had done to another Essendon player, Fields says he ran past Davis and decked him. Carlton players Rod Ashman and Rod Austin saw the incident and ran in to remonstrate, followed by other Carlton players and the fight was on. Essendon's Dean Hartigan, the father of current Richmond player Brent, was also knocked unconscious after clashing with Carlton's Phillip Pinnell. Pinnell, like Fields, isn't proud of his role in the second quarter brawl. Davis said although he wished it never happened, he holds no grudge.

The game was at Essendon's then home ground of Windy Hill and the pro-Bomber crowd also got involved. Beer cans were hurled onto the ground--their main target being field umpire Ian Robinson. It was after this game that Carlton coach Des Tuddenham called on the VFL to introduce a second field umpire.

Carlton's Rod Austin and Rod Ashman were both suspended for four weeks for striking Fields, Phillip Pinnell got two weeks for striking Robin Close, Essendon's Laurie Moloney was suspended two weeks for charging Pinnell after Pinnell hit him. Pinnell was not suspended for that. Others reported but not suspended were Carlton's David McKay for striking Moloney, Essendon's Ron Andrews for striking McKay, and Fields for striking Austin.

That second term is also notable for the 14 goals kicked by Carlton, the fourth highest score in one quarter in history.

Source: Herald Sun