Former AFL star and two-time premiership winner Glenn Archer has been charged with unlawful assault after an alleged incident at a junior football game at the weekend.
A 44-year-old Warrandyte man was charged on Monday afternoon, police said.
Police were called to an incident at an oval in Heidelberg at 3.55pm on Sunday after reports a runner had been assaulted by a spectator.
Archer has admitted he was involved in the incident, but has denied assaulting anyone.
In a statement released on Monday by the North Melbourne Football Club, of which Archer remains a board member, the distinguished former player said he was full of regret.
"I would like to apologise unreservedly for my involvement in what transpired at a junior football match in Heidelberg on Sunday," Archer said.
"Jumping the fence to defend a player was inappropriate and unacceptable."
The retired North Melbourne player was watching his son play for Park Orchards Under 15s against Banyule in the Yarra Junior Football League when a fight erupted between two players on field.
Archer told radio station SEN on Monday morning that a boundary umpire, who was also the parent of an opposition player, grabbed a Banyule player before pushing off another player with his forearm.
Archer then jumped the fence and ran onto the oval.
Minutes later, Archer said, the opposition's coaching staff and their runner began "screaming and swearing" at him.
Archer said he pushed the runner after the man got in his "personal space".
"I walked close to the fence to let him know the context of what happened," Archer said.
"I was trying to tell him the umpire hit the player. He [the runner] hit me in the face, I fended him off and it turned into a screaming match.
"I thought 'no one will defuse this situation', so I got into the car and headed home."
Police said the victim, a 47-year-old Montmorency man, sustained minor injuries which did not require any medical treatment.
Archer has been bailed to appear in the Heidelberg Magistrates Court on September 1.
