A woman claims Geelong football star Paul Chapman hit her and threw her to the ground in a drunken early-morning confrontation yesterday.
Police are investigating claims by Alex Woollett that Chapman, part of Geelong's losing preliminary final team on Friday night, assaulted her after she "pushed him away" when he sat on her friend's car bonnet about 4.55am yesterday outside a convenience store in Moorabool Street, central Geelong
After a day of silence over the alleged attack, Geelong this afternoon released a statement confirming Chapman was involved in an "incident" yesterday morning.
"The Geelong Football Club confirms that there was an incident involving Paul Chapman in the early hours of Sunday morning in Geelong," the statement said.
"No other players were involved. Paul is fully co-operating with the Geelong Police on the incident.
"The club will not be making any further comment at this stage."
Ms Woollett, 18, a bar worker who calls herself "Alickz" on Facebook and admits she was drunk, wrote the Norm Smith medallist was a "weak dog" and she "can't believe he hit me".
"Pfft ment to be an idol.. He's a bloody joke! He threw me to the ground in the midde of the road! Weak dog," she wrote.
However, a Geelong newspaper reported that witnesses saw Chapman arguing with a woman before he was tackled to ground by up to three men. The newspaper claimed bystanders urged the men to leave him alone. Another witness told the paper Chapman was left bleeding.
A police spokesman said officers were taking statements from several people over the incident. He would not comment on reports that Chapman, 28, was involved.
Ms Woollett claims Chapman "jumped" on the bonnet of her friend's BMW bonnet. Her friend then stopped the car in the middle of the road and got out to confront him.
"Then (Chapman) tried getting in my Frieda face n I stood inberween n said look f---k off and don't start ya poo ... Then i pushed ... him away n he pushed back.. Thn it was on ..:/ eeeeek! He must feeel pretty touugh though hitting a girl.. I don't care os I didn't feel it cos I was drunk."
Ms Woollet claimed she "shoved him just like as in how you'd usually say back offff ... And he went nuts so then I went nuts and arghh hectikk".
"It was unacceptable,’’ Ms Woollett told The Age today. "I hit my head pretty bad on the ground, when I got thrown to the ground. I’m still pretty knocked up from it.’’
The Age understands security cameras in the area captured the incident.
The incident came after Collingwood quashed Geelong's 2010 premiership hopes in a 41-point thumping at the MCG on Friday night.
Cats president Frank Costa said officials had not yet spoken with Chapman but intended to ‘‘first thing’’ this morning.
"The club are looking into the matter,’’ Costa told AAP. "We have heard allegations that one of our footballers, and the name Chapman has been mentioned, was involved in a scuffle or confrontation with some people in the early hours of Sunday morning.‘‘But that’s all we know and our club is following up on it.
It is the second fight to which Chapman, a Norm Smith medallist and dual All Australian, has been linked.
In March 2008, he was assaulted by a man at Geelong's Cremorne Hotel. Chapman had coins thrown at his face and when he tried to defend himself, the man threatened the footballer with an umbrella.
No charges were laid and Chapman immediately informed the club of what had happened.
http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/top-cat-a-weak-dog-woman-says-chapman-assaulted-her-20100920-15id0.html
