Melbourne’s clash with Collingwood was put on hold for almost 40 minutes amid a thunderstorm during the last quarter.
Players came from the field at around 9.56pm and the game didn’t resume until 10.32pm.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: AFL match stopped amid lightning storm in Melbourne.
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Rain started coming down heavily in the last quarter of the Friday night AFL action, but it was the sound of thunder that sparked concern.
Under the AFL’s safety protocols, games must be suspended at the sight of any lightning within 10 kilometres of the ground.
The storm first threatened to stop the game with just over 12 minutes left on the clock, and officials on the bench appeared ready to make a decision.
But the trigger wasn’t pulled until three minutes later, with 9.31 left in both teams’ seasons.
“Here we go, this could be game off here,” Brian Taylor said on Channel 7.
“Umpires are getting the word. What a disaster for these players.”
Players were told to go to their respective changerooms, where they were required to wait for at least 20 minutes.
The AFL rules state: “Once lightning is within a 10km (approx) radius the match manager will advise the emergency goal umpire to stop (or delay) the match and players and officials will be asked to return to the dressing rooms for a minimum period of 20 minutes.
“For any break in play up to 20 minutes — clubs have five (5) minutes from entry to the arena to warm up on-field until the match restarts
“For breaks of over 40 minutes, this warm up time will increase to eight (8) minutes
“Play recommences from where it was stopped.”
Luke Hodge said it would be particularly tough for the players, whose seasons would have ended regardless of what happened when they got back on the field to finish the game.
“You can see the look on the players’ faces, both teams know their season’s done,” he said on Channel 7.
“It’s all about the players’ safety, but you feel for the players. They just want it done and dusted. They want it finished up.”
Melbourne skipper Max Gawn was pictured speaking to the umpires before they ran off the field.
It is the second match at the MCG delayed by lightning this year, with Hawthorn and Geelong forced to the change rooms in the last quarter of their Easter Monday blockbuster.
More to come …