NORTH Melbourne board member and playing legend Glenn Archer has been charged by police over an incident at a junior football match on Sunday.
Victoria Police confirmed on Monday it had charged a man with one count of unlawful assault.
Archer, 44, has been bailed to appear at the Heidelberg Magistrates' Court on Friday, September 1.
Earlier Archer went on the front foot, apologising for overstepping the mark.
The incident, which allegedly saw Archer leap the fence and confront a boundary umpire, occurred at an under-15s game.
Archer's son Jackson was playing for Park Orchards against Banyule in the Yarra Junior Football League at Beverley Road Oval.
Archer told Melbourne radio station SEN on Monday morning he jumped the fence after a player was struck in the head.
"Instinctively, I go into protection mode, jumped the fence to protect the young boy," Archer said.
"By the time I get over the fence it's over, so I just told the boundary umpire off for getting involved and touching the players and obviously hitting the player."
Archer said there was a subsequent altercation with the opposition runner at half-time, but denied reports that he punched the official, and said he left the venue shortly afterwards.
In hindsight, he said he wouldn't jump the fence again.
"It's such an instinctive thing and happened so quick. I definitely should not have jumped the fence but when you see a young boy get hit, that's what you do," he said.
Archer said he had not been contacted by police, but they did attend the ground after the incident.
In a statement issued by North Melbourne on Monday morning, Archer said: "I would like to apologise unreservedly for my involvement in what transpired at a junior football match in Heidelberg on Sunday.
"Jumping the fence to defend a player was inappropriate and unacceptable.
"The incident that occurred several minutes later with the opposition team's runner was also unfortunate.
"I would like to reinforce that under no circumstances should spectators or parents intervene in any on-field matters with players or officials, at any level."
