Majak Daw, former AFL player, avoids jail after driving while suspended

Ex-AFL star Majak Daw is heading back to court on drink driving charges only days after a magistrate fined the footballer for driving without a licence.

Former AFL player Majak Daw has avoided jail. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Embattled former AFL player Majak Daw has been banned from getting behind the wheel after being charged with drink driving.

The ex-Demon and North Melbourne ruckman allegedly blew over the blood alcohol limit when his vehicle was intercepted by members of Brimbank’s proactive policing unit in February.

He is expected to front Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday over his latest alleged snub at the road rules.

The fact he had been charged again by police was revealed as he faced the same court on Monday where he avoided jail and was slapped with a $1000 fine after admitting to driving while suspended.

The court heard police uncovered Daw, 32, was unlicensed when they stopped his vehicle on Dandenong Rd, St Kilda East, about 7.30pm on December 16, 2021.

It was the second time in a month he had been intercepted by police for driving without a licence.

Defence lawyer John Marquis said Daw was “upfront” with the officers when stopped and quickly confessed he knew his licence was suspended.

Mr Marquis said Daw had first become aware his licence was suspended due to too many demerit points from traffic infringements when his vehicle was intercepted in Windsor a month earlier on November 19.

He said the ex-footballer was booked on summons on that occasion and made to leave his car behind and find another way home.

But it was when he went to collect the car – just six days out from his licence suspension ending – that he was randomly stopped by police again.

“He made a foolish decision to go pick it up,” Mr Marquis said.

When Daw faced court last year over the November intercept, Mr Marquis argued his client had moved house and failed to update his address, scoring him a $1200 fine without conviction for the “innocent mistake”.

This time Mr Marquis spoke to Daw’s “good character” and how he became the first Sudanese professional AFL player having moved to Australia when he was young.

“He’s well regarded and certainly well known,” Mr Marquis said, adding how he is a mentor to schoolchildren and does “lots” of community work in the western suburbs.

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

But Mr Marquis did concede Daw had the pending criminal charges for further traffic offences, including drinking driving.

He is yet to enter a plea to those allegations.

Given it was his second driving while suspended offence in a short period, it was expected he would face a higher penalty, including possible jail time or a licence disqualification.

But judicial registrar Lisa Rees said the fact the offending was “demerit point-related” she would spare him a conviction and issue him the four-figure fine.

She did not make any further order against his licence, noting it was currently suspended due to the pending charges he has before the court.

“Please ensure in future your address is updated,” Ms Rees warned Daws, before freeing him from the courtroom.