Majak Daw slapped with two year driving ban after multiple incidents

Ex-AFL star Majak Daw has fronted court over serious driving charges after he drunkenly drove down a footpath in an incident that “could have killed someone”.

Majak Daw celebrates with his North Melbourne teammates at a game in 2020. The 32-year-old retired from professional footy in 2022. Pic: Michael Klein

Embattled former AFL trailblazer Majak Daw has been told he “could have killed someone” when he drove on a Melbourne footpath while more than three times the legal limit.

Daw on Thursday faced Melbourne Magistrates Court to answer serious driving offences including charges for drink driving, careless driving and failing to accompany police.

He pleaded guilty to the offences.

The court heard that at 2.15pm on February 21, Daw was spotted by police driving a Mazda ute about 200m along the footpath near the carpark of Central West Shopping Centre in Braybrook.

He was stopped by police who conducted a breath test which revealed alcohol was present and Daw was asked to go with police to Sunshine police station.

Once there he returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.160 – more than three times the legal limit.

He was immediately banned from driving.

Less than three weeks before the Braybrook incident, Daw crashed a blue Ford Territory into a pole at Ascot Vale.

When police arrived at the crash site about 3.50am on February 1, they found Daw “unsteady on his feet” and “smelling of liquor”.

He told police he had been out drinking and produced the keys to the crashed car from his pocket.

An initial breath test revealed alcohol was present, however, Daw refused to accompany police to a police station.

Majak Daw now plays for North Heidelberg. He was pictured celebrating a goal for the team on Saturday, May 6, at a game against Macleod in Heidelberg Heights. Picture: Hamish Blair

Despite being warned that failing to comply with the request could see him lose his licence for two years, Daw repeatedly refused to go with police.

The court heard Daw left the accident site in an ambulance bound for Royal Melbourne Hospital.

On March 29, Daw went to Flemington police station where he nominated himself as the driver of the Ford that crashed into the pole.

Defence lawyer John Marquis said Daw had a history of mental health issues and prior to the second incident was suffering from a depressive episode that led him to drink to excess.

He said Daw, 32, had since completed a 28-day program to address his issues with alcohol and was continuing to receive counselling.

“He’s in a much better head space,” Mr Marquis said.

Daw was the first Sudanese person to play professional AFL after moving to Australia when he was young.

Mr Marquis said playing football created “somewhat of a profile” for Daw.

After retiring from his 13-year AFL career last year, Daw now plays for Northern Football League club North Heidelberg.

He works four days a week for the AFL, visiting schools to promote cultural diversity and was also involved in the League’s Next Generation Academy.

Judicial Registrar Ms Stephanie Keogh-Barnes acknowledged Daw’s ongoing efforts to rehabilitate himself.

She also agreed that being convicted of the offences could impact his future employment and community work.

However, she said the driving offences were very serious.

“Driving on the footpath with an extremely high alcohol content … someone could have been killed,” she said.

Daw was fined $2500 and had his licence cancelled for two years.

He was also placed on a 12-month adjourned undertaking and ordered to complete a road trauma seminar.

No convictions were recorded.