Former AFL footballer pleads guilty to pub assault

Former AFL footballer Luke McGuane pleaded guilty to assault in Southport Magistrates Court on Tuesday, after being caught on CCTV assaulting a security guard at Fat Freddy's Bar in Broadbeach.

The ex-Richmond and Brisbane player had his alcohol cut off by bar staff while drinking with his father and friends.

After being cut off, Luke’s father bought him a beer, which prompted security to step in.

The 37-year-old was lamenting delays in a concussion class action against the AFL.

The court was shown footage of security calmly speaking with Luke before the accused stood up and confronted him.

When the guard put his hands up in a defensive motion, Luke began wrestling him knocking over a table.

The fight was broken up by bystanders and police, who were at the bar dealing with a different disturbance.

McGuane's lawyer Jason Jacobson argued his medical condition due to concussions playing in the AFL made him look more drunk than he was. Jacobson told the court, his client had only been at the bar for an hour.

“His debate with the security officer was to try to convince him that he wasn't so grossly intoxicated,” Jacobson said.

The lawyer also told the court McGuane had lost 'hundreds of thousands' in failed investments including in a gym and a barber shop which were shut down during lockdown.

Jacobson said his client client has been “destroyed financially”.

McGuane is part of a class action lawsuit against the AFL. He had received bad news 48 hours prior to the pub assault relating to the class action.

“(He was told) that things there were going to be put on hold for another 18 months.

“That was something he was personally affected by to the point that he made that decision to that he wanted to go and relax a bit and go to the hotel with his father.

“He's had a bad run financially, and that is why the class action matter is something he's pinning his hopes on.”

McGuane must pay the security guard $500 in compensation. He was also sentenced to nine months of probation. A conviction was not recorded. 

Jonathan Jackson, 20^th June 2024