MELBOURNE, October 2026 — The Welcome to Country booing at the Hahn Australia Cup final preceded South Melbourne’s win over Melbourne Victory on Saturday 10 October. According to AAP, a section of the crowd at the south end jeered.
Wurundjeri elder Uncle Colin Hunter Jr performed the pre-match ceremony at AAMI Park in front of a record crowd of 29,911. Hellas then won 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw, as Greek City Times reported.
Welcome to Country booing before kick-off
The Welcome to Country booing started soon after the ceremony began, news.com.au reported. Kealan Hughes’ report said loud booing could be heard throughout and grew once the ceremony ended. Fans of both clubs sang the national anthem afterward, the outlet added.
The report’s opening line said critics had “slammed” Melbourne Victory and South Melbourne fans for booing the Welcome to Country. However, it did not say which part of the stadium the noise came from.
Its match report, also carried by the ABC, said a huge contingent of South Melbourne fans packed the south end. It reported “a section of the crowd at the South end booing the Welcome to Country before the match”.
Reporting from AAMI Park for The Guardian, Joey Lynch called the Welcome to Country booing “the only blemish” on the night. He wrote that boos at the start of the ceremony sparked “scrambles from terrace leaders trying to hush them”. His report did not name the terrace leaders or their club.
Uncle Colin Hunter Jr and the reaction online
Views on the Welcome to Country booing differed on social media. News.com.au quoted several viewers who criticized the crowd. One, Kevin Perkins, wrote on X: “So very sad to hear so many Victorians booing the Welcome to Country.” Another viewer, Nick Stoll, wrote: “Nah, the booing was a disgrace.”
Others, however, applauded the booing of the Welcome to Country. Commentator Kobie Thatcher posted on X: “Well done, Melbourne! Some spectacular booing of the Welcome to Country at the Australia Cup Final today.”
According to Reconciliation Australia, Traditional Owners deliver a Welcome to Country to welcome visitors to their Country. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have permission from Traditional Owners can also deliver one. Uncle Colin Hunter Jr has performed the ceremony at events in Melbourne before. In 2024, Swinburne University described him as a Wurundjeri elder when he performed a smoking ceremony at the opening of its Indigenous Learning Circles.
Neither South Melbourne nor Melbourne Victory had addressed it on their websites or X accounts at that time. Football Australia’s match report did not mention it, and Greek City Times also found no published response from Indigenous leaders.
Instead, Football Australia used X to thank the Victorian Government, venue managers and Football Victoria. Its post read: “A record-breaking crowd at AAMI Park and a special occasion for Australian football.”
Previously, the governing body responded to crowd noise at the 2022 final in Sydney. On that occasion, Football Australia said noise during Erin Wilkins’ Welcome to Country had “reached unacceptable levels”. It later fined Sydney United 58 $15,000 over fan behaviour at that match. As The Guardian reported at the time, that behaviour also included fascist songs and salutes.
South Melbourne make history on the pitch
After the Welcome to Country booing and the anthem, the final stayed goalless for 90 minutes. Denis Genreau put Victory ahead five minutes into extra time. With three minutes left, substitute Max Mikkola equalised for South.
The official Hahn Australia Cup account posted the equaliser on X.
In the shootout, goalkeeper Javier Lopez saved twice from former South player Harrison Sawyer, whose first kick was retaken. Victory captain Jason Davidson, son of South great Alan Davidson, then sent the last penalty over the bar.
Within minutes, the Australia Cup account shared footage of the winning moment at AAMI Park.
Lopez received the Mark Viduka Medal as the best player on the ground. According to AAP, South became the first NPL club to win the Australia Cup. The news agency added that the result strengthens the club’s bid for an A-League licence.
Later, the competition’s account posted a video of South Melbourne supporters celebrating.
Even so, AAP’s match report singled out one moment from before kick-off. In its words, the Welcome to Country booing was “the only lowlight of the night”.
