Katanning footy assault: Alleged victim Alvin Eades testifies at trial of Ashton Aubrey Hayden

A promising young footballer who suffered a broken jaw during an off-the-ball incident at a country football match has tearfully recalled to a jury the moment he fell to his knees in agony after he was struck. Alvin Eades struggled to hold back tears as he also told the trial of the man he claims landed the severe blow — Ashton Aubrey Hayden — that he could not remember the incident clearly but did recall seeing a player with the number 39 running away from him immediately afterwards. Mr Hayden is defending allegations he caused grievous bodily harm to the small forward during a reserves clash between his team the Brookton-Pingelly Panthers and the Katanning Wanderers in the Upper Great Southern Football League on May 30, 2021. In his pre-recorded evidence played in the District Court on Monday, Mr Eades said the match between the two sides that day was “intense” explaining it had the feel of a grand final. He said during the third quarter the standard of play became a bit “rougher” and admitted that he was also a bit “cocky” towards other players including the brother of the man he claims hit him. “I do remember calling his brother a bitch because he tried to take my head off before my broken jaw,” Mr Eades said. “I’ve got this faint vision… of a scrimmage for the ball. I go in for the ball but instead of going for the ball I seen him coming at me so I stepped aside and called him a bitch.” Mr Eades said it was about five to ten minutes after that he got hit. He testified that he was standing in between the goal square and his side’s 50m forward line looking at the scoreboard when he turned his face to return to his position when he was struck causing him to “do a full 360” then drop to his knees. He said when he looked up he saw a Brookton-Pingelly player with the number 39 on his back running away. But when asked by the accused’s lawyer if he saw the man’s face, Mr Eades conceded he did not but insisted he was positive it was Mr Hayden who struck him because he was the only player near him who was running away. Mr Eades also refuted Mr Hayden’s version of events — that he was injured during a contest for the ball between six players - or that it was Mr Hayden’s brother Jordan who called for the umpire to stop the game. Angelo Pontillo, who was watching the match from the viewing area, testified that he never saw the actual incident but did see Mr Eades run towards the umpire holding his face then collapsing on the ground seconds later. He said he had been watching the ball and recalled seeing Mr Eades handball the football over a group of players who were heading towards him. He told the court the ball then went over the goal square and the next thing he saw was Mr Eades running towards the umpire holding his face. He said he then saw Mr Eades collapse then the trainer and runner rushed out towards him before taking him off the ground. When asked if he saw the number 39 player, he said he did not adding the only player close to him at that point was the number 22 for Brookton-Pingelly. The court was told Mr Hayden’s brother Jordan wore the number 22 jumper that day. The court also heard testimony from Mr Eades teammate Norman Weazel who testified he saw Mr Eades get “clipped” by the player in the number 39 jumper. He said he and Mr Eades were running towards Brookton-Pingelly’s 50m line when he saw another player — who he insisted was Mr Hayden — run the opposite way then bumped Mr Eades. “He clipped Al, “ Mr Weazal said. “Like a fair bump. He just takes off running… it didn’t really register (with me). And then Alvin dropped.” He then told the court he ran over to his teammate, who was trying to get the umpire’s attention and then helped him off the ground. The trial continues.