Thousands March In Melbourne To Protest The AFL’s Decision To Ban The Bounce

ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact

More than 110,000 Victorians with absolutely nothing better to do on a Thursday afternoon have filled the streets of Melbourne’s CBD to protest the AFL Commission’s decision to scrap the centre bounce from 2026.

Organisers say the demonstration began peacefully outside AFL House before spilling onto Swanston Street, where chants of “Bring Back The Bounce” were interrupted only by the sound of police loudhailers ordering the crowd to disperse.

Despite it being the middle of a workday, demonstrators managed to mobilise en masse, a feat critics say reflects Victoria’s famously low cost of living, now considered comparable with Moldova and Dagestan. With housing costs a fraction of those faced in Sydney or Brisbane, Melburnians are able to dedicate entire weekdays to defending obscure football traditions.

Police confirmed the rally escalated in the early afternoon after protesters hurled a small biodegradable bag of dachshund shit at officers. A water cannon was deployed outside Flinders Street Station while multiple tear gas canisters were used to break up groups still refusing to go back to their draughty sharehouses.

By 2pm, authorities estimated 110,000 people had been cleared from the CBD, with only a handful of arrests for disorderly conduct and unlawful consumption of decaffeinated coffee.

The AFL said the Commission would not be swayed by “mob rule” and confirmed all restarts will be throw-ups from 2026.

“Removing the bounce is about safety, consistency and fairness. It is not about depriving Victorians of their only true hobby,” they said in a short statement provided to The Advocate.

“They are lucky they can demonstrate like this. Just 800km north, people have jobs and seven-figure mortgages that come first. In Queensland, it’s too hot to protest already. But they are a docile people. If they removed scrums from rugby league, they would just pretend that they always thought they were gay anyway. A docile people. It’s nice to see Victorians care this much.”

The protest joins a long list of causes Melburnians have marched for this year, including climate change, Palestine, live music venues and the right to keep throwing share scooters in the Yarra.

More to come.