Wild weather at MCG halts Geelong-Hawthorn match

Oliver Caffrey | April 1, 2024

Geelong and Hawthorn’s Easter Monday match at the MCG has been halted before the start of the final quarter due to lightning.

The teams and umpires had been on the ground ready to begin the fourth term, but they were immediately advised to head to the change rooms.

Heavy rain had been falling for most of the third quarter and continued during the break.

But officials were told lightning was within a 10km radius, meaning the game had to be stopped.

Undefeated Geelong lead the match by 36 points after dominating the first and third quarters.

Once the teams left the field, AFL rules state they had to be off for a minimum of 20 minutes.

A warning on the scoreboards read: “Severe weather is approaching the MCG. Please seek shelter immediately.”

Play was stopped in a game between West Coast and Melbourne in 2021, and the Brisbane Lions and the Demons were forced off the Gabba last year after the lights went out in the final quarter.