An Australian sports star has been charged over a machete attack in which a man was left with serious head injuries.
Liam Jurrah, who plays for the Melbourne Demons in the national Australian Football League (AFL), was taken into custody Thursday night after the incident in a remote community in the Northern Territory, The Herald Sun reported.
Police said Friday that two 23-year-old men had been charged with one count each of intend serious harm, cause serious harm and being armed with an offensive weapon.
Demons CEO Cameron Schwab said the club had yet to speak to Jurrah but was hoping to get him back to Melbourne, in the nation's south, as soon as possible.
"We will try and assist and support Liam as much as we can during this period, understanding we are dealing with incredibly complex, emotional and difficult issues," he said.
Jurrah, who is from the Northern Territory, returned home two weeks ago after the death of his partner's sister who, at the age of 25, died suddenly in her sleep. It is believed he stayed longer than expected because of a family dispute.
Jurrah, 23, was drafted by Melbourne in 2009 and has kicked 35 goals so far in his fledgling career. The incident comes only weeks away from the start of the 2012 AFL season.
