North Melbourne great Glenn Archer convicted of assault at children’s footy game
LATEST: NORTH Melbourne will not take action against footy tough guy Glenn Archer after he was today convicted of assaulting a runner at a children’s footy match in Melbourne.
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UPDATE: NORTH Melbourne will not take action against footy tough guy Glenn Archer after he was today convicted of assaulting a runner at a children’s footy match in Melbourne.
In a series of tweets, the club said it accepted Archer’s full version of events, and considered the matter closed.
“NM has accepted Glenn’s version of events, acknowledges he has taken full responsibility for his actions and is unreservedly apologetic,” the statement read.
“NM will take no further action and, from its perspective, considers the matter now closed. Glenn is able to continue his role as a director.
“NM further understands he is planning to appeal severity of the penalty and, as such, it is not in a position to make any further comment.”
NM has accepted Glenn's version of events, acknowledges he has taken full responsibility for his actions and is unreservedly apologetic...
— North Melbourne (@NMFCOfficial) September 1, 2017
NM will take no further action and, from its perspective, considers the matter now closed. Glenn is able to continue his role as a Director.
— North Melbourne (@NMFCOfficial) September 1, 2017
NM further understands he is planning to appeal severity of the penalty and, as such, it is not in a position to make any further comment.
— North Melbourne (@NMFCOfficial) September 1, 2017
Archer says he will appeal after being convicted of assaulting a runner at a children’s footy match in Melbourne.
The North Melbourne great and Shinboner of the Century initially tried to blame a runner when he was quizzed by police after the nasty incident at Heidelberg on June 25.
And today he complained when a magistrate convicted him of assault and ordered him to pay more than $3000 in fines and costs.
“Am I allowed to defend myself? You haven’t heard the full story. Are we allowed to appeal this?” Archer said, despite pleading guilty.
His lawyer Andrew Harris then told the North Melbourne champion to “sit down”.
Archer was convicted of unlawful assault for punching runner Jamie Chilcot at a football match in Heidelberg on June 25.
After assaulting the runner, Archer was forced to leave by other parents before the police arrived.
He apparently pleaded guilty believing he would only have to pay for the victim’s glasses.
Archer, whose son was playing in the under 15s game, entered the field — a cardinal sin in junior footy — and remonstrated with a young umpire after two players got in a scuffle.
At half time, Archer was warned by the opposition runner, Mr Chilcot, that he was not to enter the field of play.
Archer then abused the runner before punching him the face, breaking his $955 glasses.
He was interviewed by police on June 26 and tried to downplay the incident, claiming he was the victim.
“The runner started screaming at me … he pointed in my face, my immediate reaction was to fend him off, I pushed him with an open hand. I don’t know if I got him in the head, chest or shoulder,” Archer said to police.
The court heard he had already been charged with similar offending in 1994 and was convicted of unlawful assault in 1998.
Defence lawyer Andrew Harris said Archer was ashamed and apologetic.
But outside the court, Archer said he would appeal the penalty, complaining the court had not heard “his side of the story”.
“I actually find it crazy that someone can read out 3 per cent of the story and someone can be judged on that,” Archer said.