Natelle Hogg and Bill Fitzgerald appear in court charged over assault at Crows game

A couple charged over a fight during a Crows game at Adelaide Oval have appeared in court, where one admitted it — and the other pleaded not guilty.

Natelle Hogg and Bill Fitzgerald are charged with aggravated assault over a fight at Adelaide Oval.

A woman charged over an ugly slap at a Crows game at Adelaide Oval was enjoying her first night out after giving birth, a court has heard.

Natelle Martine Hogg and her partner Bill Brian Neville Fitzgerald appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday charged with aggravated assault over an incident in the eastern stands during the third quarter of the clash between the Crows and Essendon on July 19, 2019.

Hogg, who is also facing charges of resisting police and refusing to provide her name and address, told the court the assault charge “was definitely not aggravated because I didn’t use a weapon”.

Magistrate Simon Smart said the charge was aggravated because she was allegedly in company with her partner. Hogg said she still intended to plead guilty.

When asked if she was employed, she told the court she was on maternity leave.

“I’ve actually just given birth just over three months ago and that was my first time out,” she said.

Natelle Martine Hogg and Bill Brian Neville Fitzgerald who are charged with aggravated assault over a fight at Adelaide Oval on July 19, 2019 when the Crows lost to Essendon. Picture Supplied

Fitzgerald, who was on crutches, told the court he would be pleading not guilty because he was “just not guilty”.

Mr Smart suggested the pair seek further legal advice before formally entering their pleas.

“It’s a serious charge and it’s one that carries a prospect of imprisonment if you are convicted,” he said.

Police will allege security were called to the altercation which resulted in the pair being arrested, evicted and banned from the Oval for three months.

Hogg was later banned for three years.

Footage of the incident was posted online by the ShitAdelaide account on Instagram and went viral, with more than 100,000 views in the hours afterwards.

Essendon won the match 15.6 (96) to 10.15 (75).

Outside court, Hogg declined to comment before yelling abuse at the media.

Fitzgerald again said he was “not guilty” and was “just intervening”.

Neither commented about which AFL club they supported.

The pair, both 26 of Sheidow Park, will return to court in October.

Originally published as Natelle Hogg and Bill Fitzgerald appear in court charged over assault at Crows game