Canberra police crack down on Marist College 'walk back'

But police said those were the only incidents that marred the two-hour march of boisterous, but otherwise well-behaved, school-leavers in the early hours of Saturday.

Marist students have made a tradition of the annual "walk back" from Civic's nightclub precinct to the college's Pearce campus after their year 12 graduation ceremony.

Last year, headmaster Richard Sidorko issued a public apology after a small group of rowdy ex-students allegedly threw rocks at police, hurled abuse at them and walked into the path of oncoming traffic during the event.

In a statement, Mr Sidorko had said the walk back was not a college event; it has never been supported by the college and was strongly discouraged by the college.

Police were on high alert as this year's cohort left Mooseheads nightclub on London Circuit and headed for Commonwealth Avenue just after 2am .

A convoy of seven police cars and several motorcycles kept the boisterous crowd moving and made sure the revellers didn't spill onto the road.

Two men were taken into custody for drunk and disorderly conduct, and a third was arrested for letting off fireworks.

That man was later released without charge.

An ACT Policing spokeswoman said officers had rocks thrown at them on one occasion, with one hitting a police motorcycle.

Woden police officer in charge Sergeant Harry Hains visited the school before this year's event to warn students any anti-social behaviour would not be tolerated.

He was among the police contingent tasked with escorting the group to the southside campus, and said on the night this year's crowd had not caused any significant problems.

"There's a bit of youthful exuberance, that's what it is."

"Last year was a bit out of control but we engaged with them early on this year and the school was keen for us to do that.

"We can't stop them, so it's far better to engage with them."

Sergeant Hains said many of the young men recognised him from the school visit, and he kept tabs on the group by speaking with student leaders throughout the night.

"After I spoke I had three of the school leaders come up to me and say, 'What can we do to help you'?'"

He said it was "heartening" to see those young men make an effort to liase with police and keep their mates out of trouble on Saturday.

"It really is just about managing their safety," Sergeant Hains said.

"You get that group mentality and it's a pack thing."

Many of the men walked shirtless and they occasionally stopped on the roadside, arm in arm, to loudly sing school songs.

They sang as they walked through the Capital Circle tunnel and chanted "Tony, Tony, Tony" as they passed The Lodge, before police moved the group onto the large, grassy median strip in the middle of Adelaide Avenue to head south.

There, one of the group's ringleaders brought the men together for "a minute's silence" to pay tribute to fallen cricketer Phillip Hughes and to chant his baggy green number of 408.

Police had weeded out any underage drinkers earlier in the night and a smattering of graduates from previous years was thought to be among the crowd.

Sergeant Hains said the heightened police presence along the route was "nothing spectacular" and was warranted because the walk presented "a public safety issue".

"This isn't a usual occurrence, to have 130 men at various stages of intoxication walking down the main roads.

"I'd prefer they didn't do it, their parents would prefer they didn't do it and the school would prefer they didn't do it I'm sure.

"And maybe with a bit of gentle persuasion we can convince them not to do it next year, you never know."

Sergeant Hains urged Canberra's year 12 graduates to play it safe during end-of-year celebrations.

"Kids get told this every year, it's that exciting transition from school and they're barrelling into adulthood.

"The dangers of drinking, and drink-driving, and jumping from balcony to balcony, all hold true."