Former North Melbourne footballer Mick Martyn in Melbourne court for allegedly refusing breath test

AFL premiership player and 300-gamer Mick Martyn has blamed his poor hearing for allegedly refusing a breath test after he was believed to be the driver involved in a car accident in Newport.

Mick Martyn in action for North Melbourne in 1999.

Mick Martyn stood toe-to-toe with some of the AFL’s most powerful goalkickers as one of the game’s greatest full-backs.

But the two-time North Melbourne premiership champ found himself on the defensive for a different reason after he allegedly refused a breath test.

Martyn, 55, fronted Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday to contest one charge of refusing a breath test within three hours of being the driver of a motor vehicle involved in an accident.

Mick Martyn was a two time premiership player for the Kangaroos.

The court heard the football great, who played 300 games for North Melbourne and Carlton, allegedly refused a breath test in Newport on January 10, 2022, after he was believed to be the driver involved in a car accident.

Martyn’s lawyer Warwick Walsh-Buckley told the court his client was suffering from hearing challenges at the time he allegedly refused the breath test. He said Martyn had had multiple surgeries and medical appointments to address his hearing loss.

Mr Walsh-Buckley requested the matter be adjourned so he could obtain medical records to tender to the court.

Martyn (right) in his Carlton days, battles former teammate Wayne Carey.

He also noted the body worn camera footage worn by police during the alleged January 10 interaction was not working.

Mr Walsh-Buckley said it was not clearly explained to his client why a breath test was being requested according to the statement made by the officer who pulled him over.

Magistrate Roslyn Porter agreed to adjourn the proceeding to a two-day contest mention in August.