A court has ruled that disgraced former AFL player agent Ricky Nixon sold Melbourne premiership memorabilia with fake signatures.
But Nixon made sure to have the final say outside of court, claiming he was “the one who got dudded” in the ordeal.
It comes after several players, including skipper Max Gawn, discredited claims that they signed anything.
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Seven 2021 flag-winning Demons — Gawn, Charlie Spargo, Trent Rivers, Jake Lever, Steven May, Tom McDonald and Christian Salem — gave evidence at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.
The 62-year-old Nixon acted as his own defence counsel and pleaded not guilty to four charges.
Police had accused him of knowingly selling footballs with forged players’ signatures to oblivious Melbourne fans after the club’s premiership triumph in Perth four years ago.
Addressing the court, Gawn said the signatures on the footies in question did not resemble his signature.
“It doesn’t look like how I normally do it, but it could be a rushed one,” he observed of one of them.
“It looks like none of my previous ones. It’s a 95 per cent chance it’s not my signature.”
“He’s turned up in unbelievable nick!” | 02:25
Nixon was convicted and fined $4,500, and he will also have to refund the three victims $595.
But as he left court on Tuesday, Nixon ensured he had the final say in the matter, claiming he wasn’t the one who should have been punished.
“I think the outcome for everyone was pretty good, I’ll leave it at that,” he said.
“I’m the one who got dudded. I’m the one who paid $18,000 for forged footballs, yet they find me guilty. What a load of s***.”
He also said: “Players have told me they are legitimate. You might want to check on the AFL licensees and the direction they go on this stuff.”