Five men were arrested and will face a variety of charges, including drunkenness, resisting arrest, assaulting police and discharging missiles.

The trouble erupted during the final's third quarter at Eureka Stadium.

Sergeant Damien Ferrari, of Ballarat Police, said the arrests were made from within a group of spectators watching the game from under the scoreboard. They allegedly threw cans at police.

Sgt Ferrari said those responsible were asked by police to move on. "Several of our members were hit by cans thrown by people in the crowd," he said.

A number of police officers were injured when attempting to evict the troublemakers. Pepper spray was used a number of times to help subdue the offenders.

Police numbers steadily increased as officers from around the region were called in to help at the match between Daylesford and Hepburn.

Sgt Ferrari said fears the aggressive behaviour would escalate resulted in 10 Melbourne officers from the Police Force Response Unit attending.

CHFL president Merv McKay said this year the league had doubled the number of security around the ground to help prevent anti-social and aggressive behaviour. "We were told by security they had alerted the Gordon Football

Club, who was running the licence, that there was a problem developing."

He was also advised about 4.30pm that police had ordered alcohol sales to be stopped.

A debrief of the incident by district licensing inspector, Inspector Gerry Rudkins, will be conducted this week.

Meanwhile, police were called to the City Oval yesterday after a controversial finish to a junior football grand final.

Ballarat Football Club was initially declared winners of the Ballarat Football League under 16.5 grand final against Sebastopol by a goal.

But, sections of the crowd grew agitated when it was found goal umpires' scores did not match those of the time-keepers. League officials ordered a review of the final quarter footage while players were still on the ground.

Eventually, the teams were told to play another five minutes, with the Swans again prevailing, this time by a point.