HARROW publican Andrea Lay reckons she and her patrons copped a raw deal on Saturday night.

The historic country pub, in the state's far west, was forced to close by an out-of-town policeman at 9.15pm on Saturday for unruly behaviour.

Andrea said there were just six patrons - all Geelong fans - at the town's only watering hole - including one man wearing a dress.

The locals were "in high spirits," she said, "but not hurting anyone" when the policeman demanded the venue shut.

"I knew all the people there, and knew there was no problem, there's a difference between being a little merry and being intoxicated," she said.

Andrea said the small community - population 96 - felt targeted by the policeman's actions and that much worse would have been happening in Geelong or Melbourne on AFL Grand Final night.

"Look at Brendan Fevola at the Brownlow - the police didn't shut down Crown Casino so why should a little country pub, where we've had no trouble, no violence, be targeted?"

One of the patrons at the pub on Saturday night said he had never seen a policeman act so heavy-handed.

"Nobody was charged or arrested, but I've never seen anything like it, I don't know what he was on about," he said.

"I've seen far, far worse in other pubs, so no, I don't think it was justified."

Some locals jokingly speculated the policeman might have been a St Kilda supporter.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said as the matter was under still investigation it was inappropriate to comment.