South Australian police are investigating an altercation between Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson and a Port Adelaide fan outside the team hotel as Clarkson said he "didn't think it was too much of an incident".
And the AFL is "still in the process of gathering all information and is not yet in a position to determine whether any further action may be taken or not".
Clarkson, whose Hawks went down by eight points to Port Adelaide, shoved a man who was harassing him in the aftermath of the defeat as he walked back to the team hotel, about 10 minutes' walk from the Adelaide Oval.
South Australian police confirmed on Sunday that the incident was being investigated but no charges had been laid.
Clarkson said three "intoxicated" men had approached him and Hawks' general manager of football operations Chris Fagan asking for photos and to "stop and spend some time with them".
He said the men were clearly drunk and he and Fagan decided to "keep our heads down" and try to get in the side entrance of the hotel, to avoid crowds. He said the trio followed them down the laneway and the situation escalated when the man whom he eventually shoved "more or less tried to stop me from getting into the hotel".
Footage has emerged of the incident, provided to Channel Seven and Channel Nine.
In the final encounter the primary member of the group approached Clarkson, with a friend in front of him recording video of the exchange. He sarcastically asked the coach "Hey 'Clarko', how was the win, mate? How was the win today, brother?", prompting Clarkson to use his right hand to gently push him. The man then moved his head directly next to Clarkson's and yelled "Go the Power!!", at which point the Hawthorn coach shoved him hard with his left hand.
As Clarkson walked away the man responded with: "We got it on film, brother!"
Clarko and I didn't feel safe.They were out of control and unpredictable young men who were harassing us and in our faces.— Chris Fagan (@chrisf_h) April 26, 2015
When asked about an apology by Fox Footy's Danny Frawley, Clarkson replied he didn't "expect one" from the fan.
He indicated that if the fan hadn't been drunk, the two of them probably would have gotten along fine.
Clarkson said coaches expected and had to put up with "the occasional rant and rave from supporters", and that for the most part, the behaviour from all supporters was good. But he said the walk from the ground to the hotel, which was his usual way of getting home after games in Adelaide, probably wouldn't happen again.
"What concerns me more than anything is just being able to ... have the freedom to do what you like and move freely amongst the crowds," he said. "We'll just probably have to change the manner in which we go about things."
FAN BEHAVIOUR
The head of the AFL Coaches' Association, Mark Brayshaw, urged football fans to show more respect to coaches after the incident.
Brayshaw said he had spoken to Clarkson and Fagan. Brayshaw said it was "important to note this was the fourth time they'd asked for a photo in the space of 20 seconds, and the previous three times they were politely but firmly declined".
Football legend Leigh Matthews, in response, said the man was "lucky he didn't get knocked into next week", because of his "unbelievable provocation" of Clarkson.
Brayshaw said the Hawthorn contingent had, after seeing the group outside the hotel, decided it was best to go straight to their rooms.
"Clearly, once Clarkson and Fagan read the play, their objective was to get in to the hotel, get up in the lift, shut the door and get out of harm's way. These blokes wouldn't take no for an answer," Brayshaw said.
"Eventually it escalated when they stepped into their physical space, not just Clarko but 'Fages' as well who was shepherding these guys. They [supporters] pushed it to the point it escalated."
Clarkson and Fagan told Brayshaw the scenario they faced on Saturday night, of supporters wanting photographs with them, was not unusual.
"It's an important part of the game that fans can get a photo - it's not the NFL where you can't touch people - and 99 times out of 100 the fans are respectful. Every now and again this kind of thing happens," he said.
"They're disappointed these blokes wouldn't take no for an answer. On these occasions, fans need to pull their heads in and show a bit more discretion and respect.
"The three supporters should be condemned and Clarkson and particularly Fagan should be praised as having kept their nerve. I know of a lot of people who would've reacted a lot more violently and sooner."
Hawks great Matthews, a four-time premiership coach, strongly defended Clarkson's reaction.
"All Alastair has done is got sick of the bloke next to him and shoved him away," he told AFL Game Day. "Talk about provocation - that's about as extreme as you could get."
Former West Coast coach John Worsfold, the chairman of the AFL Coaches' Association, said Clarkson, like any coach, "shouldn't have someone obviously intimidating him and in his face like that".
