SCALPERS this year face on-the-spot fines for the first time at a Grand Final under new state legislation.
Victorian Minister for Sport and Recreation Hugh Delahunty said on Tuesday any person found advertising or selling five or fewer Grand Final tickets at more than face value would be fined $721 on the spot.
Mr Delahunty said individuals and organisations who sold five or more Grand Final tickets at more than face value would again be subject to heavy fines.
Individuals face a fine of $8661 for a single offence and up to $86,000 for multiple offences, while organisations face a fine of $43,308 for a single offence and up to $433,000 for multiple offences.
Victoria Police Supt Peter O'Neill said police would be out in force at the MCG on Saturday ahead of the Hawthorn-Fremantle clash looking for any signs of scalping, while social media and online sales sites such as eBay and Gumtree would also be closely monitored.
"We want to get the message across that selling tickets above face value is illegal and we take it very seriously," Supt O'Neill said.
AFL deputy CEO Gillon McLachlan also warned that anyone purchasing Grand Final tickets from a scalper risked not having a valid ticket for Saturday's match.
"The Grand Final is the most in-demand sporting event in Australia and unfortunately that also means that it can attract people out to make a quick dollar," McLachlan said.
"Ticket scalping … deprives clubs of revenue and means you can get ripped off and will most likely find yourself without a ticket to the match."
McLachlan said Fremantle's involvement in this year's Grand Final could exacerbate scalping activity, with some Dockers fans flying over for the game before securing a ticket.
