- Old Camberwell lost their U19 grand final in chaotic fashion
- The team celebrated the victory prematurely and was punished
A local final ended in chaos, with fans storming the pitch, costing their team dearly.
Players and spectators at Old Camberwell celebrated after the final whistle sounded during the VAFA U19 Division Two Grand Final against University Blues, confident they had secured victory by five points.
However, the referee had awarded a free kick to the Blues just before the whistle blew, with the penalty being taken 60 yards from goal.
That gap would have been too great for the Blues to make up the five-point deficit, given the harsh conditions on the oval field.
But the premature cheering from fans and players proved to come at a huge price.
At least four players were seen entering the field, while a handful of others, not dressed in club clothing, also entered the field.
The referee penalised Camberwell for entering the field of play before the end of the match by awarding the Blues a 50-metre penalty. This crucial intervention gave the Blues a real chance of winning.
Old Camberwell lost their grand final after celebrating victory too early
The referees awarded University Blues a 50-metre penalty as a result and they won the final
That meant the final kick of the match was within reach of scoring.
Angus Watson was given the task of firing the ball from about 15 yards out, right in front of the posts, and he held his nerve to make his team champions.
After the ball sailed between the goalposts, Blues fans stormed the pitch to celebrate and jeer at Camberwell in a final capitulation rarely seen before in world football.