WEST Coast will stand by troubled midfielder Murray Newman after the 20-year-old was found guilty of assault occasioning bodily harm in the Perth District Court on Wednesday.
Following a three-day trial, Newman was found guilty of fracturing the jaw of a Perth man in an incident at a Northbridge nightclub in November 2012.
The Eagles released a statement following the verdict saying that while the club did not condone Newman's actions, it would continue to support him and he will remain on the rookie list.
"We believe it is important to support Murray through a pivotal time in his young life," Eagles football manager Craig Vozzo said.
"Since the incident, we have noticed positive changes in Murray’s life and we feel we need to assist that progress.
"With support, understanding and direction we believe Murray can mature into a young man who can contribute positively to the Western Australian community."
Prosecutors alleged the Eagle had a grudge against Brett Marris, then aged 20, because he had slept with Newman's girlfriend when the couple were on a break.
After weeks of threats from Newman on Facebook, the pair saw each other at the Library Nightclub in Northbridge, where they fought for about 10 seconds before bouncers broke up the fight, the court heard.
But Newman claimed he acted in self-defence against a taller man who grabbed his throat.
It took a jury about three hours to convict Newman.
During the trial, the threatening Facebook messages were shown to the jury including one where Newman told Mr Marris to "start digging a grave".
Newman also called Mr Marris a "little girl" and asked why he did not want to meet "for a crack".
Judge John Staude ordered pre-sentence and psychological reports.
He also scolded Newman as he told the footballer he had been found guilty of a serious offence that could carry a jail term.
"Take your hands out of your pockets," Judge Staude said.
But he noted Newman had no prior record and was young when he committed the offence.
Newman will next appear in court on March 7 and has had his bail renewed, with conditions including not entering licensed premises unless he's on official West Coast business.
Newman had been supported in court for the past three days by West Coast teammates including captain Darren Glass, Dean Cox, Nic Naitanui, Josh Kennedy and Sharrod Wellingham.
