Sam Newman's son claims his dreams of AFL stardom were 'ruined' by an NBA player who allegedly used him as a dance floor in a boarding house attack while they were at the top school
The son of AFL great Sam Newman believes he could have become a football legend like his father if not for an NBA star who bullied him at school.
Max Jones, 25, claims Jock Landale, 28, who plays for the Houston Rockets, broke his back when the pair were staying together at Geelong Grammar in 2013.
Jones is Newman's youngest son from his relationship with Leonie Jones.
Max Jones (left) next to his famous father Sam Newman
Mrs. Jones is the woman Newman ran over in 1997, breaking his leg.
Mr Jones is suing both Geelong Grammar and Landale for as much as $2 million.
Geelong Grammar is one of Australia's most exclusive private schools, costing $40,000 per year. The then Prince Charles, now King Charles III, attended the school for six months in 1966.
Court documents show Mr Jones was in year 10 and Landale was in year 12 when the older boy allegedly attacked him.
Mr Jones claims he was quietly watching television in the common room of Manifold House – one of the original three Houses of Geelong Grammar – when Landale and his mate entered armed with a portable speaker.
While the music was on, Mr Jones claimed Landale placed the speaker on a nearby table before picking him up by his shoulders and slamming him into the ground.
Mr Jones claims Landale then literally danced on him, leaving him with life-changing injuries.
The case is expected to go to trial next year, with both defendants fiercely contesting the claims.
In documents recently filed with the court, Mr Jones claimed he had plans to follow in his father's footsteps as an AFL player, believing he could make big money both on and off the field.
Mr Jones has made no secret of his desire to become a television personality, telling the Herald Sun in 2020 that he still believed he could make it.
“I love sports and through my father I have seen the highs and lows and the good and bad sides of it, both on and off TV,” he said at the time.
'I would really like to work in (TV). That's what I'm trying to strive for.'
Max Jones (right) claims he was used as a dance floor during savage attack as he boarded Geelong Grammar
Houston Rockets star Jock Landale (left) is accused of using Max Jones as a dance floor while they were in school. He is pictured with his partner Indi Maddern
Mr Jones claimed Landale's attack 'derailed' his football dreams and blamed the school fail to protect him.
“(Geelong Grammar) owed (Mr Jones) a non-delegable duty of care to exercise for the safety of (him) such care as a careful parent would take for his or her own children,” his lawyers wrote a statement of claim.
Although Mr Jones admitted he had suffered some back pain before the alleged incident, he claimed the attack was the cause of what has become a lifelong suffering.
'Following the incident, Mr Jones was out of breath and in pain. He had previously suffered from back pain, which was significantly aggravated by the incident,” his lawyers stated.
Mr Jones claimed that 10 years after the alleged attack he was still suffering from muscle and spinal problems, which hampered his ability to work.
His lawyers believe he could have earned more than $740,000 in a career in sports media, or more than $1.2 million if he could have worked in general management.
After leaving Geelong Grammar, Mr Jones worked as a bartender and studied a Bachelor of Leadership and Management at RMIT before withdrawing five months later. Herald Sun reported.
He worked casually as a waiter and interned at Essendon Football Club in 2019 before withdrawing from a Bachelor of Media and Communications during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Max Jones, the youngest son of Sam Newman (photo), is suing his former school
Basketball star Jock Landale (pictured with fiancée Indi Maddern) is being sued by Max Jones over an alleged incident at Geelong Grammar in 2013
Houston Rockets star Jock Landale (left) appears to drive to the rim as Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game on Nov. 29. Landale is accused of being a school bully
Mr Jones claimed he was taken to Cabrini Hospital the next day for his injuries.
“While in immense physical pain, (Mr Jones)…ultimately underwent L4/L5 laminectomy surgery on February 8, 2013,” the court was told.
“(He) continues to experience back pain, including occasional leg weakness, as a result of the injuries resulting from the incident.”
Mr Jones is suing both Geelong and Landale for loss of past and future income and medical expenses, and has retained law firm Arnold Thomas and Becker to represent him.
“The incident constituted an attack on common law for which the second defendant (Landale) is directly liable,” the summons said.
'As a result of the incident and the injuries caused as a result, the claimant's ability to concentrate and investigate has been impaired.'
Geelong Grammar has denied the allegations, claiming Mr Jones had not reported any sexual assault at the time.
Landale has also denied the alleged assault and other allegations made against him by Mr Jones.