Police have arrested two men following the alleged assault of former North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell outside a South Yarra bar in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The two men, both of Narre Warren and aged 21 and 26, attended Prahran Police Station on Monday.
The 21-year-old was charged with affray, intentionally causing injury, and assault by kicking. He was bailed to appear in the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court on October 24 this year. The 26-year-old was released pending further enquiries.
Ziebell, 32, was celebrating with past and present teammates, Kangaroos staff members and other friends after playing his final AFL match on Saturday afternoon.
They started at The Bridge Hotel in Richmond before some of the group, including Ziebell, went to The Osborne Rooftop & Bar in South Yarra.
A North Melbourne spokesperson told The Age three men began harassing a few of the Roos’ footballers on arrival at The Osborne, prompting bar security to ask the agitators to leave. The alleged assault occurred about 1am on Sunday after Ziebell briefly went outside by himself to find a friend he thought might be in trouble.
Former North Melbourne captain Jack Ziebell arriving at hospital, where he will undergo surgery.Credit: Nine News
It will be alleged Ziebell was punched in the face, causing him to fall onto the road, before he was allegedly kicked while on the ground.
He underwent successful facial surgery at the Epworth hospital on Monday after suffering injuries during the incident, including a broken nose. Ziebell also underwent an operation in June last year after a facial fracture from an on-field incident.
Nine News cameras were on hand when Ziebell arrived at hospital with his wife, Shannie, and significant abrasions and bruising under his eye and across his face were visible.
North Melbourne co-captain Jy Simpkin, who was with Ziebell on the night, said for the celebrations of a “true champion of our football club” to end the way they did “isn’t great”.
Jack Ziebell played against Richmond on Saturday.Credit: AFL Photos
“He looks out for his mates, and especially his teammates. He’s certainly got [everyone’s] best interests in mind,” Simpkin told Nine News.
“It just speaks volumes about the sort of bloke he is [that he was going outside to help someone].
“It’s quite confronting – I think that’s probably the best way to describe it. As soon as the [alleged] incident happened, we all sort of got together, got around him, and then made sure everyone got home and got out of there safely.
“Most of the boys would have been in touch or sent him a message in one way or another, and he’s felt that love, which is awesome. Our thoughts go out to him and his family at the moment.”
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