Security guard went to break up AFL fight

Amid growing concern about how fans are being treated at games, extraordinary footage has emerged of a security guard nearly going onto the field.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan will address the sport's security issues in greater detail on Tuesday. (AAP)

A security guard has started running onto the field during an AFL match to break up a scuffle between two players.

Extraordinary footage has emerged of the incident during Sunday's GWS win over North Melbourne in Hobart.

It is more embarrassment for the league and its venues over security at games, with AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan publicly apologising on Monday night for growing unrest among fans.

Giants defender Heath Shaw and North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell were wrestling on the wing, with an umpire nearby.

The security guard starts jogging towards the two players and takes a step over the boundary line before the umpire shoos him away.

"No it's alright, you can't come on here (the ground)," the umpire tells the guard, who immediately backs away.

The footage was aired during Fox Footy's On The Couch show, with panel members amazed by the incident.

"If you put your faith in people that have got no training or little training, this is the sort of disaster that may well have happened 24 hours ago," said Brownlow Medallist Gerard Healy.

"You had a bloody security guard about to come on the ground to separate two players."