Sportsman charged over 'unprovoked' footy field assault

AN UNPROVOKED punch to an opponent after the siren signalled the end of a tightly contested rugby union grand final has landed a Mackay footballer in court.

Aaron Leigh Barba, 36, in action on the field. Barba faced Mackay Magistrates Court on Friday. Picture: Daily Mercury

AN UNPROVOKED punch to an opponent after the siren signalled the end of a tightly contested rugby union grand final has landed a Mackay footballer in court.

Aaron Leigh Barba told Mackay Magistrates Court, through his lawyer, that the victim had been "getting in his face" and he thought he was going to be attacked.

But the victim said in a statement that Barba had wound back and struck him out of nowhere while he was celebrating, clapping his hands at waist height, soaking in the Kuttabul Camelboks' tight win.

Barba, 36, faced the court on Friday, pleading guilty to assault occasioning bodily harm at BB Print Stadium, South Mackay on September 16 last year, while he was playing for the Mackay City Redmen.

Prosecutor Chelsea Pearson told the court the assault happened on the field of the Casey Avenue venue about 6.30pm, after the match had gone into overtime.

"As the game has come to an end, the victim was clapping, as his team had just scored, and jogging towards a team member when the defendant pulled his right arm back with a closed fist and struck to the left side of the victim's face, causing the victim to fall to the ground and receive facial injuries," she said.

"The victim has gotten up and felt dizzy and unsteady on his feet. He received no other injuries during the course of that game.

"He attended Mackay police station on the 17th (of September) to report the complaint of assault. Police observed bruising on his eyelid and his forehead above his eyebrow.

"The defendant later participated in an interview with police on the 14th of December. When questioned, he stated he was playing a grand final and the opposing team scored in extra time."

Barba admitted at the time to "swinging his forearm" at the victim "out of frustration".

Ms Pearson said Barba's criminal record covered two pages and included "numerous" domestic violence offences.

Defence solicitor Chris Colwill said Barba had instructed him the victim had been "getting in his face" while he was "highly stressed" and still hyped up from the game, which had just wrapped up.

Barba, the older brother of NRL star Ben Barba, thought "the victim was running at him" with "a view of pushing him or hitting him", Mr Colwill added.

Touching on his client's criminal history, Mr Colwill said Barba had "a troubled period in his life" influenced by "substance abuse".

Still, Barba was described as a hard worker currently employed in the rail industry.

Magistrate Mark Nolan dubbed the "unprovoked assault" as "just inexcusable" and "very bad conduct".

He exclaimed it was fortunate Barba didn't cause the victim to fall back and hit his head, with potentially tragic consequences.

However, Mr Nolan noted Barba had no similar convictions on his "unattractive history" and he had entered a guilty plea in a timely fashion.

Barba was placed on probation for 18 months and a conviction was recorded.

Originally published as Sportsman charged over 'unprovoked' footy field assault