Alleged Dockers puncher appears in court

The 24-year-old accused of hitting a woman at an AFL preliminary final after she asked him to tone down his language has appeared before a Perth court

Fremantle Dockers fans

The Fremantle Dockers fan who allegedly hit a woman in the throat has appeared before a Perth court. (AAP)

The Fremantle Dockers fan who allegedly hit a woman in the throat has appeared before a Perth court charged with several offences including assault.

Cody Yarran, 24, faced Perth Magistrates Court on Saturday, a day after he allegedly hit a mother who asked him to tone down his language at an AFL preliminary final.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the violence was unacceptable.

"Our supporters need to feel safe," Mr McLachlan told media on Saturday.

"Children need to feel safe. Women need to feel safe at the football. That behaviour cannot be tolerated in any form."

The woman he allegedly assaulted, who is using the false name Sarah, told Southern Cross Austereo she was enjoying the Friday night game with her family - all Hawthorn fans sitting among Fremantle supporters - when a rowdy man began swearing and challenging spectators to a fight.

After Sarah told him to take a seat and "you are really scaring my kids", the man said he did not "give a f*** about her children" before allegedly hitting her throat with the webbing between his thumb and index finger.

Sarah said her children were shaken and her eight-year-old stepdaughter will never again go to the AFL, despite Friday's game being the first she has attended.

Yarran will appear in court again on October 5.


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Source: AAP



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