GRAND final hero Paul Chapman was forced to defend himself after being assaulted at a local hotel on Saturday night, Geelong says.

According to a club statement, the incident occurred at around 8pm and the club was aware of the details by 9pm.

“We have spoken to Paul, the owner of the hotel and other patrons that were present and they have been consistent in terms of what happened,” Geelong’s general manager of football operations Neil Balme said.

“In the circumstances we feel Paul was within his rights to defend himself.

“It is always difficult when footballers are targeted, but given what happened most reasonable people would have acted in the same manner that Paul did.”

The club said that Chapman was still considering his options in relation to the matter.

Chapman overcame a debilitating groin injury to play a major role in Geelong’s breakthrough premiership win last September.

He was runner-up behind Steve Johnson for the Norm Smith Medal, kicking four goals and providing one of the highlights of the match when he soared over Port Adelaide captain Warren Tredrea for a classic mark on the member’s wing.