Channel 7 sports personality Nick Riewoldt has been defended by his network after he was unexpectedly grabbed from behind, leaving him to push the fan away prior to Thursday night's AFL clash between Adelaide and Collingwood.

Footage showed a fan approaching the St Kilda great on the River Bank bridge near Adelaide Oval, as he referenced commentary lines from the 2010 AFL Grand Final.

The fan mimicked Collingwood defender Health Shaw’s infamous smother on Riewoldt.

The person who appeared to be filming could be heard referencing commentator Dennis Cometti’s famous call of the play.

“Heath Shaw, Heath Shaw, Heath Shaw. He’s come up on him like a librarian, like a librarian,” the man shouted.

The fan smothered his arms around Riewoldt, who looked in a state of shock, as he shrugged the

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