Police have been forced to use capsicum spray to subdue a Geelong AFL player outside a Victorian nightclub before arresting him early this morning.
The club has identified the player as defender David Johnson.
Johnson is not playing in Saturday's grand final but was a member of Geelong's VFL premiership winning side last week.
Police reports indicate two men and a woman were assaulted by a man (believed to be Johnson) who then fled the scene once confronted by police.
Police then chased the man and used capsicum spray to subdue him.
A police spokeswoman said the man identified as Johnson had come to the attention of police earlier in the night, when he was evicted from a nightclub at 2.30am.
Police drove him home to his Newtown address before they found him again in Moorabool Street.
Johnson was being interviewed on Friday morning over the incident.
The club said that because it was a matter being investigated by the police, it could not make any further comment.
AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said Johnson's arrest was disappointing for the club, which had enjoyed a magnificent year.
"If the allegation is correct (Johnson's behaviour) would be silly," Mr Demetriou told Southern Cross Broadcasting.
"Geelong Football Club has done everything magnificently this year.
"They have won every award, they have conducted themselves brilliantly and I'm sure they would be extremely disappointed with that incident that happened overnight."