An AFL team's partying in traditional Mad Monday festivities amid an ongoing investigation into another team's alleged wild night has raised eyebrows.

The Richmond Tigers were spotted celebrating outside the Garfield Hotel in Garfield, a country town 80km southeast of Melbourne, on Monday.

Mad Monday is an AFL tradition which sees players cut loose after finishing the final game of their season, with Tigers players seen carrying an esky and downing beers before playing a drinking game on the pub balcony. 

At one point, players were seen spanking the buttocks of a teammate in an apparent reference to the sexual assault allegations made following Sydney Swans players having a night out in Melbourne last week.

Richmond finished its last game with a 57-point loss against the Geelong Cats on Saturday.

They won three matches in the 2026 season, twice against West Coast and once against Essendon.

Tigers players were seen drinking pints of Guinness with eggs in them at the Garfield Hotel before taking off their shirts and sitting in the sun, some wearing local netball jerseys.

Other players were spotted whipping each other with belts, while another appeared to act out pole dancing.

Kane Cornes, a Seven commentator, described the belt-whipping as 'embarrassing'.

'Firstly, what are you celebrating? It's a team that's finished 17th for the second season in a row,' he said. 

'They won three games and you're out during the day celebrating while your fans are hurting.

'To be there with your tops off in view of the public is just nothing more than an embarrassment to me.

'It's not the first time Richmond have done it. They're not the only club that dresses up like morons when it comes to this stage of the year, particularly for teams that have nothing to celebrate.'

There is no suggestion any of the players broke behavioural rules. 

However, the sight raised eyebrows amid an investigation into another AFL team – the Sydney Swans.

Five players - Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon - were suspended last week for 'breaching club standards'.

The sanctions are separate to a police investigation into a sexual assault allegation at East Melbourne's Pullman Hotel on August 17.

The club found they breached its standards by staying out late, drinking and bringing women back to the hotel.

No charges have been laid and all players have denied wrongdoing.

Daily Mail does not suggest any of the players are involved in any wrongdoing, just that they spoke to police about the alleged incident. 

Also on Monday, AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon delivered a strongly-worded statement at press conference commencing the league's finals series.

As the Swans crisis continues, Dillon said respect for women was 'not negotiable'.

There have been several incidents over the past few years at Mad Monday celebrations that have sparked controversy about player behaviour, yet the tradition remains a strong part of club culture.

AFL finals are set to kick-off on Friday with the wildcard games.  

The Western Bulldogs will host Collingwood at the MCG for the first wildcard final on Friday, followed by Melbourne versus Carlton at the MCG on Saturday.