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Retired North Melbourne great Jack Ziebell is in hospital after an unprovoked attack at a Melbourne bar on Saturday evening, according to reports.
Ziebell, who played his 280th and final game on Saturday afternoon in the Kangaroos’ loss to Richmond, will likely need facial surgery, according to SEN reporter Tom Morris, who broke the story.
The act has been described as a ‘coward punch’, with Victoria police releasing a statement that the 32-year old was pushed onto the road outside The Osborne Bar in South Yarra, before being kicked when he fell.
Retired North Melbourne great Jack Ziebell was involved in an incident last night outside The Osborne Bar in South Yarra.
He was coward punched in an unprovoked attack and is currently in hospital. He will likely need facial surgery. Details on #CrunchTime at 11am. @1116sen
“Officers have been told a 32-year-old man was assaulted in what is believed to be an unprovoked incident outside a bar on Commercial Road on Sunday 20 August about 1am,” a Victoria Police spokesperson told AAP.
“It appears the victim was pushed onto the road by the offender, who was in the company of two other men, before he was punched to the face and kicked when he fell to the ground.
“The trio then fled the scene.
“The injured man wasn’t seriously injured.
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“Police are investigating whether the assault may have followed a reported push and shove scuffle inside the venue which led to the trio being removed from the venue.”
North Melbourne released a club statement on Sunday morning confirming the assault.
“North Melbourne is aware of an incident involving Jack Ziebell at a South Yarra bar overnight,” the statement reads.
“Ziebell had been celebrating his final match at a club function earlier in the evening and headed to the venue with a group of teammates and some staff following the event.
“He later exited the venue and was immediately set upon by a group of men in an unprovoked attack.
“He suffered injuries to his face and head and needed to spend the night in hospital.
“Victoria police attended the incident.”
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Ziebell captained the Kangaroos between 2017 and 2022, and gathered 23 disposals in his farewell game against the Tigers.
Renowned as one of the AFL’s toughest players, Ziebell battled injury and form in his final year as the Roos turned to youth, and is one of a number of club greats to hang up the boots in 2023, along with fellow midfielder Ben Cunnington.
