Spent conviction, fine for footballer

A talented Subiaco footballer with ambitions for an AFL career has been fined $2000 after admitting assault charges arising from a brawl with rival West Perth WAFL players outside a nightclub in Leederville.

Matthew Patrick Boland was also granted spent conviction orders, which will mean he does not have to declare a criminal record, when he pleaded guilty to two counts of assault occasioning bodily harm at his first appearance in the Perth Magistrate's Court yesterday.

The court was told that his accused co-offender and Subiaco teammate Kyle John Halligan would plead not guilty to two identical charges arising from the melee, which erupted outside the Hip-E Club about 3.30am on March 29.

Boland punched Falcons player Max Alexander in the face, causing a fracture, and also twice punched former West Coast midfielder Jordan Jones in the face.

Mr Jones was knocked unconscious in the brawl but it was not alleged the punch by Boland had knocked him out and to the ground.

Defence lawyer Seamus Rafferty, who represented both men, said Boland accepted his behaviour was wrong and inappropriate in the circumstances.

"He is a person of the utmost character and integrity," Mr Rafferty said.

He told the court that his client had lost a lot of weight and been unable to properly sleep or eat since the incident.

Mr Rafferty said there had been a degree of provocation involved in the brawl, though not in the context of a legal defence.

He said Mr Alexander had punched another Subiaco footballer inside the nightclub and was asked to leave the premises. The Subiaco players left the club some time later and Mr Alexander was still outside.

Mr Rafferty said the group of Subiaco players went down a laneway so some of them could "relieve themselves". The West Perth players turned a corner and arrived at the same spot. Then the fight broke out.

Mr Rafferty said a criminal record would affect Boland's job as a scheduler with a building company and his future in the AFL.

Magistrate Elizabeth Woods noted that Boland had no criminal record and referred to character references that spoke highly of the 24-year-old. "Obviously it is not desirable that people break into fights, certainly around licensed premises, and this unfortunate incident has attracted quite some publicity," she said.

Mr Halligan will reappear in court on July 7.