Talented football player discovers fate in court after breaking man’s nose in on-field assault

A young star footballer with AFL aspirations was hauled before the Supreme Court after breaking the nose of an opponent on-field in an Old Scholars match. What the judge decided>

Talented Hobart footballer Caleb Hunter has been sentenced in the Supreme Court after breaking an opponent’s nose on-field. Picture: Alison Wynd

A young star footballer with AFL aspirations has been hauled before the Supreme Court of Tasmania after breaking the nose of an opponent on-field.

Caleb Aaron Leslie Hunter, now 20, was playing in an Old Scholars match for the Old Hobartians Association football club in July last year when he attacked 40-year-old opponent Patrick Carroll.

Mr Carroll, who has not returned to the field since the attack, following a 20-year football career, had been playing for the Dominic Old Scholars Association club.

While sentencing Hunter in the Supreme Court of Tasmania, Acting Justice David Porter said in the third quarter, Hunter tripped Mr Carroll, resulting in a free kick and some “ill feeling”.

Later in the match, and after “taunting and niggling” between the pair, Mr Carroll tackled Hunter, with play stopped after both men fell to the ground.

Mr Carroll was awarded another free kick on the basis that Hunter had been holding the ball, but as Mr Carroll tried to stand up, Hunter “lost control” and punched him to the face.

Mr Carroll fell onto his hands and knees, in immediate pain and with his nose bleeding, and was helped from the ground into the change rooms.

Acting Justice Porter said it was difficult to stop the bleeding, and Mr Carroll went to hospital, discovering he needed surgery for numerous fractured nasal bones – and needed to fork out $3000 in medical bills.

The judge noted that after the attack, Hunter was immediately “set upon” by Mr Carroll’s teammates in a retributive attack, and punched six or seven times to the face and upper body.

Hunter was arrested a week later.

He told police he was remorseful, ashamed that he may be labelled a “dirty player”, and that the behaviour was out of character, having played 150 games and never being sent off before.

Acting Justice Porter noted Hunter was a talented athlete who excelled in football, and was involved in two football talent academies, one of which was associated with an AFL club.

However, he said Hunter suffered severe anxiety, so played in a football league at a lower standard than he had been engaged in.

Acting Justice Porter noted there was “inevitable risk” when playing sports, however players did not consent to being unlawfully assaulted, and were deserving of the protection of the law.

Hunter, who pleaded guilty to one count of assault, was sentenced to an 18-month community correction order, with 105 hours of community service.

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