One of the all-time greatest AFL games has been marred by an ugly bottle-throwing incident as furious Hawthorn fans targeted umpires over a controversial decision in the final minute of the Hawks’ preliminary final against the Brisbane Lions.For a second-straight year, the Hawks suffered the gut-wrenching pain of preliminary final defeat, losing 20.11 (131) to 19.8 (122) at the MCG.The game slipped from Hawthorn’s grasp when a contentious holding-the-ball decision against defender Jarman Impey gave Hugh McCluggage a free kick and the Lions star kicked the match-deciding goal with 18 seconds left.A Fox Sports commentator described the umpire’s decision as ‘the biggest call you have ever seen’.The decision triggered furious boos from tens of thousands of Hawks fans packed into the MCG, with bottles thrown at the umpires as they left the field.At one point, an official alerted a colleague, who ducked an incoming bottle before pointing out the unruly fan to security guards. Furious Hawthorn fans targeted umpires over a controversial decision in the final minute of the Hawks’ preliminary final against the Brisbane Lions Former Hawthorn great Luke Hodge slammed the wild behaviour. ‘The umpires are walking off, they should not have things thrown at them. A bottle has come down from the top tier,’ he said’We’ve never seen bottles thrown on the ground like this before, have we? Have we ever seen a scene like this?’ SEN broadcaster Dwane Russell said.Former Hawthorn great Luke Hodge slammed the wild behaviour.’The umpires are walking off, they should not have things thrown at them. A bottle has come down from the top tier,’ he said.Footy fans were quick to agree on social media, with one user writing: ‘Disgraceful. Should be life bans dished out.’Another said: ‘That’s not the way, boys. Not our night but shouldn’t be doing that.’A third added: ‘Embarrassing behaviour, no, disgraceful. The AFL needs to come down hard on this type of behaviour.’Hawthorn players James Sicily, Tom Barrass and Jack Ginnivan were seen having angry words with the umpires at the end of the game.Ruckman Lloyd Meek swore as he spoke to reporters in the rooms but coach Sam Mitchell impressively kept his emotions in check throughout a fraught post-game media conference, where he spoke of mourning. Hawthorn players James Sicily (pictured front), Tom Barrass and Jack Ginnivan were seen having angry words with the umpires at the end of the game’This feeling is the pits,’ Mitchell said.Mitchell said he did not know about Sicily, Barrass and Ginnivan going to the umpires, but he was aware of the bottles being thrown onto the ground.’At the end of the game, part of me wanted to break down in tears, part of me wanted to scream with rage, part of me wanted to throw chairs, you don’t know how to react,’ he said.’So when you’re in the stand, you need to continue to be feeling that emotion, because that’s why we love it, but how it manifests itself – we shouldn’t be throwing things on the field and doing those types of things.’But the passion in the stand and the passion of the game is why we love it so much. So I hope that for the vast majority it was felt responsibly.’Meek was near Impey when the free was paid.’It’s heartbreaking… We pour our heart and soul into this. I was standing right next to him – I will be replaying that one for a while,’ Meek said.’I just feel like I probably could have jumped on and knocked the ball out or done a “stacks-on” – something … it’s hard, in the dying moments.’ The final-minute decision triggered furious boos from tens of thousands of Hawks fans packed into the MCG. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by any fan pictured aboveMitchell spoke of grief and added it was too soon to think beyond what had just happened.’I think we’re in a mourning phase. What’s the first part, is it anger? I think I’m still half in anger, probably sense it in my body language,’ he said.’What else, what’s after anger? I don’t know, last is acceptance and – I nearly said a bad word – I’m a long way from acceptance right now.’I will sit in anger for a bit longer, I’m sure all the players will too.’Before they left the MCG for the last time this season, Mitchell brought his players into a tight group.’It was just, “Remember this”. There’s nothing more raw than that five minutes straight after the siren, when it hurts the most,’ Meek said of Mitchell’s message.’Remember the burn and the outrage and how frustrating it is – because that will be our fuel. We have a big pre-season ahead.’Mitchell spoke of his great pride in the Hawks, who staged an outstanding comeback in the final quarter.But in the end, it came to nothing.’If you want to strive for great things, you will open yourself up for all sorts of emotion, the greatest of joy, and the deepest of pain,’ he said.