Dual AFL premiership player Glenn Archer has been charged over an alleged assault at his son's junior football match in Melbourne.
The former North Melbourne player and current board member has "unreservedly" apologised for his involvement in two Sunday afternoon incidents at an oval in Heidelberg.
Archer jumped the fence when a fight broke out, then had an "unfortunate incident" with the opposing team's runner several minutes later.
A Montmorency man, 47, allegedly sustained minor injuries that did not require treatment, police say.
The 44-year-old Warrandyte man was charged on Monday with one count of unlawful assault and was bailed to appear at Heidelberg Magistrates' Court on September 1.
Archer, whose son Jackson plays for Park Orchards' under-15s team, says he got into a "screaming match" with the opposing team's runner and then pushed him as the teams and officials walked off for half-time.
That came several minutes after Archer says he saw a boundary umpire hit a player in the head while trying to break up a fight between players.
"(The umpire) grabbed the Banyule player and fended our player off with a forearm, which ... hit the other kid in the head," he told SEN radio on Monday.
"Instinctively, I go into protection mode and jump the fence to protect the boy.... I told the boundary umpire off."
North Melbourne's Shinboner of the Century said he left the ground shortly after the half-time incident.
In a statement released through his former AFL club, Archer said he regretted entering the field of play and acknowledged it was wrong.
"Jumping the fence to defend a player was inappropriate and unacceptable," he said on Monday.
"I would like to reinforce that under no circumstances should spectators or parents intervene in any on-field matters with players or officials, at any level."
Yarra Junior Football League said it was aware of the off-field incident and was investigating.
Archer said he will co-operate with the league's investigation.
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