In a moment that left fans and teammates in disbelief, Port Adelaide's Miles Bergman committed one of the most bizarre errors in AFL history during the heated Showdown clash against Adelaide Crows.
The young defender, seemingly caught in the heat of the moment, inexplicably kicked the ball towards his own goal instead of attacking the opposition's end. The blunder immediately drew gasps from the crowd and left commentators scrambling for words.
A Moment of Confusion
Bergman's misjudgment occurred during a critical phase of the game, with Port Adelaide fighting to maintain their lead. As the ball came loose in defence, the 22-year-old gathered possession cleanly before executing what appeared to be a perfect kick - only for everyone to realise it was heading in completely the wrong direction.
Teammates could be seen waving frantically as the ball sailed towards their own unattended goalsquare, forcing a desperate chase to prevent what would have been one of the most embarrassing own goals in Showdown history.
Social Media Erupts
The incident quickly went viral, with AFL fans across the country sharing the clip and debating whether this was:
- The funniest moment of the 2025 season
- A simple brain fade under pressure
- Evidence that the Showdown rivalry creates unique pressure
Bergman, to his credit, quickly shook off the mistake and continued to compete strongly for the remainder of the match. However, the moment is sure to feature prominently in future Showdown highlight reels - though perhaps not the kind of highlight the young defender would prefer.
Coaches React
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley downplayed the incident post-match, telling reporters: 'These things happen in the heat of battle. Miles is a quality player who made a split-second error - we'll have a laugh about it and move on.'
Adelaide's Matthew Nicks was more amused, joking: 'I thought it was very generous of him - we nearly sent him a thank you card at quarter time.'
While the blunder didn't ultimately cost Port Adelaide the match, it's certain to become part of AFL folklore and a moment Bergman won't live down anytime soon.
