A violent incident that marred an AFL game on the weekend has sparked outrage and calls for tougher penalties for fans who get physical at the footy.

Melbourne beat Hawthorn by five points at the MCG on Saturday and on Sunday, Channel 9 revealed disturbing footage of a man, wearing a Demons guernsey, attacking another man in a Hawthorn guernsey. The Melbourne fan punched Hawks supporter Ben Ploegmakers in the head and dragged him to the ground before people rushed in to help.

Someone can be heard in the video saying: “Leave him, mate. Leave him. Leave him.”

Another voice is heard saying: “He’s disabled you (expletive) idiot.”

Mr Ploegmakers, who has an intellectual disability, recounted the scary encounter, which he said started when knocked a beer on the Melbourne fan after being called a “spastic” and “retard”.

“I shouldn’t have thrown the beer on him, but he shouldn’t have called me a retard or a spastic,” he told Channel 7.

“It’s pretty scary. It’s just terrifying. He could have seriously hurt me.

“I didn’t know what to do. I was just lying on the ground while I was getting hit in the head and kicked.”

Victoria Police released a statement on Sunday saying: “A 34-year-old Baxter man has been interviewed over an assault which occurred at the MCG yesterday afternoon following the Melbourne-Hawthorn game.

“The man is expected to be charged on summons with assault related offences. Police are still to identify the victim who had left the venue prior to their arrival.”

Melbourne also voiced its anger at the incident, saying in a statement: “The club is appalled by this behaviour and vehemently (condemns) violence of any kind.

“It is important to our club and the AFL community that all patrons feel safe. Violence has no place in the community let alone at a sporting event.

“The club is working with all relevant parties involved to gather further information, and to determine the appropriate action required.”

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Footage of the attack was played on the Sunday Footy Show and prompted host Tony Jones to call for severe punishments for anyone found guilty of violent behaviour at the footy.

“You might have heard the audio, ‘He’s disabled’. Words fail you. I mean, you know, the fact that he is disabled makes it worse, OK, but what right do people have to actually inflict that sort of violence on other people at the football?” Jones said.

“When will we learn?

“We certainly need to beef up the penalties imposed. You can’t just go, ‘Well, you know, he is a Melbourne member, therefore we’ll tear up his membership. I think the AFL have to get tougher on this and say, ‘Mate, you can have a spell for 10 years. You’re not wanted’.

“Until you can learn to conduct yourself in a civil manner in public, you’re not wanted at our football matches.”

Former Western Bulldogs and Richmond star Nathan Brown said such incidents warrant a life ban from AFL matches.

“The one punch thing is just not getting through to some people,” Brown said. “If that poor young guy hits his head on the concrete, which is concrete all around, he could die.

“It is a life-threatening thing. People just aren’t getting it. Unfortunately, it seems to be middle aged males and we just don’t get it. I think we need to.”

The boys share their thoughts about a fighting incident from yesterday's match.#9AFLSFS pic.twitter.com/FaH3qYezVJ — Sunday Footy Show (@SunFootyShow) May 5, 2019

Crowd violence has rocked the AFL in recent times. This year’s season-opener between Richmond and Carlton was marred by a sickening KO after a wild brawl broke out on the ground level of the MCG’s Great Southern Stand after the Tigers posted a 33-point win.

There were a number of violent clashes during the 2018 season too, including one after a Geelong-Melbourne game, one at Marvel Stadium’s EJ Whitten bar at a Collingwood-St Kilda clash and another when the Pies played the Western Bulldogs.