A Victorian man who king hit West Coast AFL player Will Schofield in an unprovoked attack has avoided jail.
Josaia Cabealawa, 25, pleaded guilty to recklessly causing serious injury over the August 25 attack, which left the Eagles defender with a fractured cheek and severe facial bruising.
Schofield, 24, had been given permission by West Coast to visit friends and family in Geelong after the Eagles played Collingwood in Melbourne that weekend.
The Geelong Magistrates Court on Tuesday heard Schofield, who was walking with friends, had made a friendly comment to Cabealawa as they passed each other in central Geelong.
Cabealawa then doubled back and king hit Schofield in the head before punching him another three or four times.
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Nearby police witnessed the assault and had to use capsicum spray to restrain Cabealawa after he became verbally abusive.
One of Cabealawa's friends warned Schofield not to report the matter to police.
Schofield was taken to Geelong Hospital suffering a badly fractured cheek and severe bruising and swelling to his left eye.
The injuries forced him to miss West Coast's last game of the season.
Cabealawa fled but was interviewed by police two days later, telling them he was very drunk on the night and did not have a good memory of the incident.
Magistrate Peter Mellas sentenced Cabealawa, of Bell Post Hill, to 100 hours community service and issued an order barring him from licensed premises in central Geelong.
He said stories of drunken violence were far too common.
"It is the type of occasion that the community is sick of hearing about," Mr Mellas said.
He said Schofield deserved better than to be assaulted when returning to his home town.
"Obviously the impact of what has occurred will be there for some time," he said.
