Line in the Sand Match
| 2004 AFL Line in the Sand Match Round 11, 2004 Hawthorn v Essendon | ||||||||||||||||
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| Date | 5 June 2004 | |||||||||||||||
| Stadium | MCG | |||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 42,682 | |||||||||||||||
| Broadcast in Australia | ||||||||||||||||
| Network | Network Ten | |||||||||||||||
The Line in the Sand Match is the unofficial title given to the round 11, 2004, match between Australian Football League (AFL) clubs Hawthorn and Essendon, which was played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday, 5 June 2004.
A number of incidents in the third quarter led to fights breaking out all over the ground, eventually turning into a five-minute melee involving almost all players on the ground. Following the brawl, Essendon kicked fourteen goals to Hawthorn's six to record a 74-point win.
Eighteen players faced charges at the AFL Tribunal from the match on 8 and 9 June 2004, with record suspensions and fines handed out.