Former AFL star charged with assault at junior game

In a further example of 'ugly parent syndrome' at youth sport, former North Melbourne AFL star Glenn Archer has been charged with assault after an incident at a junior football game in Melbourne's north-east.

Victoria Police said they were called to an incident at an oval in Heidelberg just before 4pm on Sunday after reports a runner had been assaulted by a spectator.

Archer, aged 44, was charged with unlawful assault and bailed to appear in the Heidelberg Magistrates' Court on 1st September.

Police said the alleged victim, a 47-year-old from Montmorency, suffered minor injuries that did not require treatment.

Archer (pictured) has said he was involved in the incident but denied assaulting anyone.

The retired player was watching his son play for Park Orchards Under 15s against Banyule in the Yarra Junior Football League when a fight broke out between two players on field.

Archer told SEN the boundary umpire, who was a parent from Banyule, became involved and he instinctively jumped the fence "in protection mode".

Archer said the incident settled down and he returned to the boundary line. He said at half-time, as the opposition coaches were coming off the field, the runner began verbally abusing him.

Archer claimed "it turned into a bit of a screaming match, I thought no-one is going to settle this down so I need to defuse the situation.

"So I actually hopped in my car and went home."

Archer left the scene before Police arrived.

Archer played 311 games for the Kangaroos, including the 1996 and 1998 AFL Premierships. He won the Norm Smith Medal for best on ground in the 1996 Grand Final.

In a later statement released by North Melbourne, where Archer is a board member, Archer acknowledged he should not have jumped the fence.

His statement read "I regret my initial decision to enter the field of play and acknowledge it was wrong.

"I would like to reinforce that under no circumstances should spectators or parents intervene in any on-field matters with players or officials, at any level."

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