Judge Liz Gaynor said it appeared Stanimirovitch had “snapped” and warned him to keep his fists to himself in future.

“You can’t go around hitting people — off the footy field or on it,” she said.

“As long as you ... keep your fists to yourself, this court will never see you again.

“You’ve got a bright future. Don’t muck it up.”

Judge Gaynor suspended Stanimirovitch’s two-month jail sentence, which had been imposed by magistrate Pauline Spencer in July last year, for 18 months.

Crown prosecutor Tom Lynch told the court the footballer’s history of violence meant nothing other than a prison sentence was warranted for his single punch to Glenrowan opponent John Hutton on July 14, 2007.

“He is said to be a 600-game footballer,” he said.

“He’s said to be a man who enjoys the game.

“One of the aspects of the game is you play the best you can within the rules.”

Defence barrister Philip Skehan told Judge Gaynor that Stanimirovitch, 29, suffered a mental illness and had experienced suicidal thoughts since the attack.

“This is a young man who’s undergone an extraordinary amount of punishment and pain,” Judge Gaynor said when handing down her decision.

“Subsequent to this event, he underwent a blast of publicity.

“He lost his girlfriend.

“Every sort of misfortune that could have ensued, bar jail, ensued.”

Judge Gaynor said she accepted Stanimirovitch had meant to punch Hutton but hadn’t mean to injure him.

The Glenrowan player was knocked unconscious by the blow and had to be carried from the field.

Whorouly Football Club committee member Don Phillips supported Mr Skehan’s submissions the assault had been the result of friction between the two footballers after Stanimirovitch left Glenrowan to play for Whorouly.

Judge Gaynor said the father-of-one, who has since moved to Melbourne for work, had great prospects of rehabilitation.