Sporting Grand Finals are generally euphoric moments to be savoured for making and hopefully winning a premiership medal.

This was not the case on Saturday, when five junior grand final matches were played on Oakes Oval as part of the Football Far North Coast season, and over at Crozier Field, where the 2025 Rugby Grand Finals were played.

While the pinnacle of football was being celebrated on the field, players and coaching staff were victims of crime by what Football Far North Coast General Manager Steve Mackney described as "Some selfish, grubby individuals, who took advantage of others by entering various change-rooms and stealing various items."

"The rugby grand finals that were in progress at the adjacent Crozier Field were also cruelly impacted, with several motor vehicles stolen, after these lowlifes of society ventured into the change rooms to rifle through personal items."

The police were contacted, and investigations are underway to track down the culprits.

"While I commend the police for their diligent efforts, I am so exceptionally disappointed (even slightly embarrassed) that sport is so innocently implicated in the unacceptable behaviour of individuals living in our community.

"The message for everyone who attends one of the grand finals (in whatever role you may have) is to please be vigilant at all times with safeguarding your personal property. While reasonable efforts are made to monitor/manage activity within the vicinity of the changerooms and broadly at the venue, there are individuals who will use deception to take advantage of others.

"Please make your members aware that the incidents have us cautious about the way forward, and more scrutiny can be anticipated towards individuals within the Oakes Oval precinct during the coming weeks."

With more finals and grand finals coming up in the coming weeks, Steve Mackney also took the opportunity to make it clear what the conditions of entry are to Oakes Oval:

• No alcohol;
• No glass;
• No pets;
• No smoking (or vaping)
• No public access to the field of play or change rooms

"Entry to Oakes Oval is free of charge, and individuals are welcome to share the excitement of our marquee event, as long as their attendance/participation at this event is matched by values that reflect common courtesy.

"If anyone has any information that might assist the police in their investigations, I invite them to contact the police or me directly, as appropriate," Steve Mackney said.