BARRY HALL has admitted he could have killed Brent Staker with a violent blow to the head in round four, 2008.
Nine-and-a-half years after the incident, the pair have come face-to-face for the first time for a television interview.
Asked by Damian Barrett if he had a fear "that you actually could have killed Brent," Hall responded: "Yeah, absolutely (it) could have been worse."
"There's the one punch thing getting around now in society, and it happens every weekend and it has to stop 'cause it's dangerous," he said.
"For the first couple of seconds sitting down here it's a bit of a shock, but we're just two men going about our business now," Staker said seated alongside Hall in an interview with The Footy Show set to air on Thursday night.
"It was a low act and something that he shouldn't have to live through now, and I spoke about that Hall of Fame night that that bothers me a bit," Hall said before he and Staker watched a replay of the incident together.
"I don't like it, it's uncomfortable for me to sit here next to him and watch it," the former Sydney forward said.
Barry Hall after knocking out Brent Staker with 2008's brutal punch. Picture: AFL Photos
Staker revealed he is regularly reminded of the incident.
"I don't actively look to show anybody, clearly," the former West Coast defender said.
"It just somehow finds you every now and then.
"I've come to terms with it, I know that it's going to be one incident that they remember me for."
Hall was suspended for seven weeks.
A badly concussed Staker is helped from the SCG. Picture: AFL Photos