Adelaide Oval fight accused, Natelle Martine Hogg, pleads guilty to assault at Crows match

A woman who punched a man in the stands during an AFL match at Adelaide Oval and also clashed with media outside court has been given “a last chance”.

A Sheidow Park woman has avoided jail over an ugly punch at an AFL match at Adelaide Oval after telling a court she was “very mentally unstable” at the time.

Narelle Martine Hogg, 27, told the Elizabeth Magistrates Court on Tuesday she was “really really sorry” over the incident, which took place in the stands during a clash between the Crows and Essendon in July last year.

Hogg pleaded guilty to assault, resisting police and failing to provide her name and address to officers.

She also pleaded guilty to property damage and assault after she lashed out at the media following an Adelaide Magistrates Court appearance on October 1 last year.

On Tuesday, the court heard Hogg was enjoying her first night out after giving birth when she hit a patron with a “closed fist” before a “scuffle” broke out and she was removed from the ground.

Bill Fitzgerald (centre) and Natelle Martine Hogg (right) clash with TV reporters and other media outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court on October 1 last year. Picture: AAP

Hogg, who formerly worked at Big W as a cashier before having a baby, told the court she was “really really sorry”.

“I was very mentally unstable at that time,” Hogg said.

“I’ve grown up in a hard life. It’s no excuse. I completely messed up.

“I had a few drinks, I hadn’t drank in a long time obviously. I haven’t done a thing wrong since, I’m not like that. I know it doesn’t look good on me.”

Magistrate Derek Sprod said Hogg got into a dispute with another patron and “punched that person on the side of the face”, was aggressive towards police and refused to provide her name and address.

“She has a bad record, in particular for assaulting people,” Mr Sprod said.

“I’ll give her a last chance. It’s another promise to your community to behave herself. You assault anybody ever again you go to jail.”

Natelle Martine Hogg damaged a Channel 10 microphone during a scuffle outside the Adelaide Magistrates Court in October last year. Picture: AAP

A single charge against Hogg’s partner, Bill Brian Neville Fitzgerald, over the Adelaide Oval incident was dropped in January.

Hogg and Fitzgerald also clashed with reporters outside Adelaide Magistrates Court on October 1 last year in a struggle that lasted several minutes and required multiple sheriff officers to break up.

Police prosecutor Hall said Hogg was verbally abusive towards a Channel 10 reporter, striking the journalist with her handbag which gave her an “instant headache”.

He also said a microphone, which belonged to Channel 10, was damaged during “the assault and subsequent struggle”.

The court heard Hogg had a relevant criminal history, receiving a 12-week suspended prison term in 2016 for assault.

Mr Sprod had earlier sought to adjourn the matter until Wednesday but Hogg said it was difficult to get to court from her Sheidow Park address.

“I can’t afford to spend another $200 (on a taxi fare),” Hogg told the court.

“And I don’t want to take my child on public transport.

“I just want to plead guilty.

“I just want this to be over. It’s been over a year now.”

Hogg received a three-month suspended prison sentence, two convictions, a $500 18-month good behaviour bond and will have to pay almost $2000 in fees and other costs.