The fan who threw a drink bottle at Hawthorn players at the end of last Thursday’s clash against Sydney has been handed a big ban and fine.

The AFL confirmed late on Monday afternoon that the Sydney Swans supporter responsible for the incident will be barred from attending any AFL matches for the next five years.

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The Melbourne Cricket Club has also come down hard, banning the 43-year-old man from all events at the MCG for the same period.

Victoria Police slapped the fan with a $407 infringement notice for his actions.

In addition to the bans and fine, Sydney has confirmed that the fan’s Victorian-based Swans membership will also be cancelled.

“Footy fans are the best fans in the world, but throwing objects at players will never be acceptable and if caught, you will lose the privilege of being able to attend the footy for a period of time,” AFL head of security and integrity Tony Keane said.

The incident only came to light the day after the match when Hawthorn livewire Nick Watson raised the alarm.

Watson had put the finishing touch on the Hawks’ hard-fought win at the MCG on Thursday night with a goal after the siren.

He was then involved in an animated exchange with fans in the section of the ground occupied by the Swans’ cheer squad.

“They were throwing Coke Zero cans out there ... I saw one just go straight past me,” Watson told Nova on Friday.

“I dunno what happened with the guy but ... it just landed right next to us.

“Lucky it didn’t hit any players, but yeah, a few players saw it.

“I mean, I was giving them heaps, but I’m not sure a Coke Zero bottle to the face in return would’ve been nice.”