A snake delayed the start of a women’s football match in Australia on Saturday, forcing officials to call in a snake handler.
The moment the poisonous snake was captured-Image Source: Sky News
The match between Greater Western Sydney Giants and Richmond Tigers was scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m. local time at Blacktown International Sportspark in western Sydney.
However, a red-bellied black snake, a venomous species found in eastern Australia, was spotted on the field shortly before kickoff.
The match was delayed for about 30 minutes while officials waited for the snake handler to arrive.
In a video posted on social media, the snake handler was seen calmly removing the snake from the field.
Can you believe it! 🐍
A snake on the field has delayed the clash between the Giants and the Tigers, but we’re almost ready to get underway! pic.twitter.com/FNVx8GXduo
— AFL Women’s (@aflwomens) September 16, 2023
Giants captain Briana Harvey told Fox Sports during the delay that the snake was “a small red-bellied black snake at the moment, in one of the far corners.”
“It’s 34 degrees here, and we’re surrounded by bushland, so I don’t think it’s that surprising,” she said.
The match eventually started at 8:00 p.m. and match between Greater Western Sydney Giants and Richmond Tigers eventually kicked off and the Giants won 3-1.
