- Zac Mainwaring spoke about the death of his father during the match
- Chris Mainwaring died in 2007 from a cocaine-related seizure
- Was a star for the West Coast Eagles who played 201 games for the club
The son of AFL legend Chris Mainwaring was sledged during a match following the tragic death of his late great father in 2007 from a cocaine-related attack.
Zac Mainwaring was playing for West Australian side Claremont against the Perth Demons on Saturday when a comment was made about his father’s death, according to The Western Australia.
The West Australian Football Commission has confirmed its integrity unit is handling the matter.
“During last weekend’s friendly match between Perth and Claremont, the WAFL was made aware of an on-field altercation between two opponents,” the commission said in a statement.
‘Following the investigation which took into account all available evidence, together with consultation with the Football Operations Managers of both clubs (who represented the players), the parties involved agreed that education would achieve a satisfactory outcome.’
West Coast Eagles AFL legend Chris Mainwaring’s son Zac (pictured) has been hit out over his father’s death
Chris Mainwaring (pictured celebrating the Eagles’ first major final victory in 1992) died in 2007 aged 41 from a suspected cocaine-related attack
It was reported that Mainwaring shook hands with the opponent in question after the match and the player apologized for the comment.
Claremont boss Darcy Coffey said the WAFL is handling the incident.
Chris Mainwaring was a two-time AFL champion and was inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
Zac made his senior debut for Claremont in 2022 and quickly drew comparisons to his famous father.
Between 2008 and 2012, a number of Chris Mainwaring Legends matches for Telethon were held in his honour, with former players queuing at Subiaco Oval to raise money for children’s charities.
Zac had to run with the Legends team as a nine year old and during the 2012 edition he was brought into the team to make a cameo for the Eagles OWLS team (Older, Wiser, Larger, Slower) and he kicked a goal in the last quarter.
The family scattered Mainwaring’s ashes in a private tribute in 2017 to mark the anniversary of their loss. Zac said at the time that he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps through footy.
“It (footy) is good because sometimes I can’t bear to think about dad not being there,” he said.
Chris Mainwaring (pictured with Ben Cousins) was inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2005
Footy legend Robert DiPierdomenico holds Zac Mainwaring and Maddy Mainwaring during the Chris Mainwaring charity AFL match at Subiaco Oval in October 2009
‘I miss him very much when I see other fathers with their sons. I remember him as a very good father and hopefully I can follow in his footsteps and become what he was.”
Mainwaring’s number 3 jersey was retired for three seasons after his death, while the Eagles’ Best Clubman Award has been permanently renamed the Chris Mainwaring Medal.