- He was reportedly trying to sell signed Melbourne Demons footballs
- Questions have been raised about the legitimacy of the signatures
- Nixon will fight the accusations
Former AFL powerbroker Ricky Nixon has indicated he plans to fight allegations he sold counterfeit sports memorabilia.
Nixon, 60, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court via video link on Tuesday.
His lawyer, Jasmine Taleb, told the court they had tried to negotiate the case with the prosecutor last week, but there were “no realistic prospects for a resolution.”
Nixon was charged in November last year after allegedly selling 10 footballs allegedly signed by members of the Melbourne Demons following their historic 2021 premiership victory.
According to the indictment, Nixon allegedly “by deception” claimed that player autographs were genuine, which he then sold for $595 each on October 1, 2021.
Former AFL player manager Ricky Nixon appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court via video link on Tuesday.
Nixon has denied all allegations and vowed to fight the allegations against him
Mr Nixon has denied knowing the footballs were fake and claimed he bought them from someone who told him they worked for an AFL licensee.
“To my surprise and complete shock, three of the balls were fake,” Nixon told Sam Newman’s podcast, You Cannot Be Serious, in November 2021.
“I’m the one who was abandoned, not the other way around.”
In court, Ms Taleb requested the case be forwarded for a match mention, noting that there were two witness statements that police had yet to produce – one believed to be him traveling and the other evading police.
Nixon is accused of trying to sell footballs he claimed were signed by Melbourne Football Club players following their 2021 premiership victory
Magistrate Rosemary Falla agreed and adjourned the case until April 6.
She instructed police to provide Nixon’s lawyers with everything they could rely on for the case by April 1.
Nixon seemed pleased with this turn of events and responded; “Thank you very much, thank you very much.”
Nixon is a former Australian rules footballer and sports agent who had a brief playing career with St Kilda in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
However, Nixon is perhaps better known for his career as a player manager and sports agentwho represented several high-profile players in the 1980s and 1990s.
Despite his success as an operative, Nixon’s later career was marred by controversies, including legal issues and scandals.