Sam Newman’s son Max Jones to face NBA star Jock Landale and Geelong Grammar in trial as he sues over alleged assault

The son of AFL great Sam Newman is set to face NBA star Jock Landale and their former school Geelong Grammar in a three-week trial as he sues over an alleged violent assault.

The son of AFL great Sam Newman, NBA star Jock Landale and their former school Geelong Grammar are set to face off in a three-week trial over accusations of a violent assault between the ex-schoolmates.

Max Jones is suing the state’s most exclusive college and his former classmate, Mr Landale – who signed a $48m contract with the Houston Rockets last year – amid claims of a schoolyard battery that sparked a debilitating back injury.

The Supreme Court on Friday heard the parties had failed to reach any agreement over the case, where Mr Landale is accused of repeatedly jumping on Mr Jones’ lower stomach to the beat of a song, forcing him a week later to have discs removed from his spine, in 2013.

Justice Jacinta Forbes on Friday confirmed the case was set down for a 15-day jury trial from May 7.

Max Jones and Keira Lewis.

But she also ordered an 11th hour final judicial mediation the day before to see if Mr Jones, Geelong Grammar and Mr Landale couldn’t settle the case to avoid a lengthy hearing.

Despite the failure to reach a compromise via earlier mediation, lawyer David Thomas, for Mr Jones, told the Supreme Court he was “confident we may be able to reach some agreement”.

He confirmed that Mr Jones planned to call three experts and five other witnesses to give evidence in his case.

Meanwhile, Geelong Grammar expects to rely on one expert and two lay witnesses, with “several witnesses under discussion”, and Mr Landale is set to call four lay witnesses.

Jock Landale in action for the Houston Rockets. (Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images North America / Getty Images via AFP)

Mr Jones was in Year 10 at the Corio campus when he claims the older Mr Landale, in Year 12, forced him to the ground and committed a “battery” on him in the school’s Manifold House common room, on February 7, 2013.

A week later, he alleged he underwent a discectomy as a result of Mr Landale allegedly jumping on his stomach.

In court documents, he said he “aspired to follow in his father’s footsteps”, with Newman having played 300 games for Geelong Football Club, but that his injury “derailed any prospect” of him pursuing an AFL career.

Sam Newman says his son has his full support. Picture: David Crosling

Newman earlier told the Herald Sun that his son, who he shares with former partner Leonie Jones, had his “full support”.

Mr Jones claims the school was negligent in preventing the alleged assault and of failing to supervise him, while Mr Landale was “directly liable”

He is suing for loss of past and future earnings and medical expenses.

Both Geelong Grammar and Mr Landale deny the claims.

The matter will return to court on May 6.