by DOC » Fri Apr 04, 2025 7:27 am
Two men have been charged after allegedly bypassing the MCG’s cutting-edge security and carrying loaded firearms into the Carlton-Collingwood blockbuster on Thursday night.
In a major security breach, the guns were allegedly found hidden down the men’s pants as the Carlton-Collingwood clash played out in front of more than 82,000 fans.
The men, both allegedly already on bail, were charged in the early hours of Friday morning.
Police were called by security after one of the men caused a disturbance during the second half.
It was only then that the men were allegedly found to be carrying firearms hidden down their pants.
The charges allege one man had already being banned from possessing a gun and the other had altered his firearm’s identifying information.
A 27-year-old Broadmeadows man faces counts of possessing a loaded firearm, possessing an unregistered handgun, possessing ammunition without a licence, altering the serial number of a gun and carrying an item prohibited under the Major Event Act.
He was also charged with failing to answer bail.
A 21-year-from Roxburgh Park has been charged with being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm, committing an indictable offence while on bail and possessing ammunition without a licence.
Prohibited person orders are applied by courts in cases related to firearms offending.
The will appear in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
The incident is one of the most alarming security breaches at a Melbourne major event in recent history.
How the guns were allegedly smuggled into the venue is expected to be the subject of a major review.
Victoria Police said no one was injured during the incident.