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Writ for rising WAFL star

Writ for rising WAFL star

A rising WAFL star is being sued by the former bar manager of the Perth Demons after she claimed she was seriously injured when he "body slammed" her after a club champion awards night.

Matthew Rogers, 24, who now plays for Swan Districts, faces a common law claim of damages from Julia Spark, who was bar manager at the Demons when she was injured after the 2009 Butcher Medal count.

Court documents released this week reveal that at about 1.30am on September 25 Ms Spark and her staff were cleaning up after the function as Mr Rogers and several other guests continued the party.

"Whilst walking from the Phoenix Lounge into the Lathlain Hall within the club buildings, Mr Rogers is alleged to have grabbed Ms Spark and thrown her over his shoulder in a kind of wrestling body slam," Judge Bruce Goetze said.

"She landed flat on her back and was temporarily winded.

"As a result of the alleged assault, Ms Spark claims to have suffered injury, loss and damage."

Ms Spark suffered injuries, including to her shoulder, which may still require major surgery.

She received worker's compensation from the club - which then agreed to an undisclosed settlement.

But she now intends to make a claim against Mr Rogers.

WA's District Court was asked to rule on whether the settlement with the Demons ruled out Ms Spark taking action against Mr Rogers personally.

Judge Goetze said because Mr Rogers was only a Colts player for the Demons at the time, it did not preclude the action - clearing the path for Ms Spark's lawsuit to continue. "Mr Rogers may well have been a registered player whose role it was to play Colts football but he was not employed by the club at the time of the alleged assault," the judge said.

"There was not a sufficiently close relationship between the alleged assault at a club function and his mere registration to play football such that it would be fair and just to hold the club liable for his alleged assault of Ms Spark."

Ms Spark said that legal negotiations were continuing.

Mr Rogers' lawyer Richard Camm said neither he nor his client would comment.