That was despite the best efforts of his lawyer, who argued at length on Monday that 19 was too young for someone to be saddled with a conviction for life.

The affray and assault charges, defence lawyer Stephen Stanton told magistrate Miranda Moody, did not justify a conviction, especially as Mitchell Jack Irvin was caught up in the moment on the night and was only helping defend his mate.

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The friend previously was convicted on affray and assault occasioning actual bodily harm charges, fined $1000 and placed on a 12-month community corrections order.

But Ms Moody was scathing of the Griffith teenager's involvement in the brawl, which the other man instigated.

She said his role was only slightly less violent than that of his friend, something that was reflected in him not being charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Ms Moody said the incident was "too serious" for Irvin to escape conviction.

She said the police facts "do not indicate much of a discrepancy at all" between the actions of Irvin and his friend.

The court was then shown the CCTV footage taken outside the Albion Hotel on the night of March 21.

While the friend played a slightly greater role, Irvin could be seen repeatedly punching strangers.

Ms Moody said the footage confirmed that a conviction was warranted over the incident, which began after Irvin's mate told a stranger he was a "faggot" for wearing a pink shirt.

The pair, she said, acted like "thugs".

"It's an ugly scene, there's no doubt about it. We've watched the video in court today with sentence and I'm sure it troubles him as much as it troubles me to see such wanton violence on our streets."

Ms Moody said "more often than not" she tried not to convict young people just as they were ready to "go into the world".

But what was perpetrated by Irvin - who she acknowledged was of good character and from a good family - could not be ignored.

It was the type of behaviour, Ms Moody said, that the community expected to be discouraged by the courts.

The other man's victim suffered injuries including facial cuts and abrasions and deep bruising and was treated at Albury hospital.

Irvin was placed on a 12-month community corrections order for the affray and was fined $300 for the assault.