Remarkable scenes have unfolded at Optus Stadium tonight as nearby lightning forced West Coast and Melbourne players and officials to be ushered from the field.

With about 20 minutes of the match remaining, ground staff alerted the umpires to the worsening weather and play was immediately stopped early in the final term.

“There’s lightning so we’re going to have to stop,” the umpires could be heard telling players.

“There’s lightning in the area so can you gather both your teams.”

Players immediately left the field and went into the rooms.

Commentator David King called for Melbourne to be declared winners given they were up by 33 points when play stopped.

“If I’m Melbourne … I’m calling for this to be done now,” he said.

“You don’t want to send your players back out once they’ve cooled down.

“They’ve got bigger fish to fry in the next month or so coming.

“I’m not warming Max Gawn up again at his size and putting him through another warm up for what is going to be a waste of time for the last 15 minutes of football.”

Boos rang out as the ground announcer told fans play was halted due to the severe weather.

“Due to approaching weather it is necessary to delay the match,” the Optus Stadium scoreboard read.

“Please follow the directions from stadium staff.”

Since the lightning rule was introduced in 2007, play has only even been halted due to lightning in an official AFL clash once before, back in 2014.

“This is very, very weird,” commentator Brian Taylor said.

“There’s no doubting this is the right thing to do.

“This is bizarre.”

Fans were told to stay in the stadium and seek shelter, with Optus Stadium staff clearing fans from seats in the lower level that are exposed to the weather.

Players from both clubs were seen warming up in the change rooms during the 20-minute delay before they returned to the field.

Play recommenced minutes later in the Demons forward 50, where the ball was when the game was stopped.

The full rule:

11.1.2 Incomplete Match If a Match is unable to commence or continue within the time scheduled for the Match for reasons beyond the control of either Team (including circumstances where it is unsafe for the Match to proceed), the following shall apply: (a) Match not commenced: The result of a Match which is unable to commence for reasons beyond the control of either Team shall be determined by the Controlling Body. (b) Prior to half time: If a Match has commenced but is not able to proceed at any time prior to half time, the Teams shall depart from the Arena. If the Match is unable to recommence within a 30 minute period, the Match shall be deemed to be drawn and the scores of the Teams at the time the Match was interrupted shall be used in calculating the percentage of each Team. (c) Half time & beyond: If the half time interval has been reached and the Match is unable to proceed at any time, the Teams shall leave the Arena, or in the case of half time, not return to the Arena. If the Match is unable to recommence within a 30 minute period, the scores of the Teams at the time the Match was interrupted shall be deemed to be the final scores of the Match. The Team with the highest score shall be deemed the winner of the Match and the scores shall be used in calculating the percentage of each Team.