# Footballer who knocked ex unconscious welcomed back by boyhood club: Fiancée speaks out in his defence as backlash tears country town apart: ‘Silencing us won’t make this go away’

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/footballer-who-knocked-ex-unconscious-welcomed-back-by-boyhood-club-fiancee-speaks-out-in-his-defence-as-backlash-tears-country-town-apart-silencing-us-wont-make-this-go-away/
- Published: 2026-10-28T14:01:58+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-28T14:12:57+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16238483/brodie-avard-jerilderie-football-club-backlash-fiancee-silenced-women.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Americas, Art, Culture, Football, Sport, World

## Key points

- A’Vard’s return to Jerilderie has prompted community backlash.
- Critics say the club blocked accounts and deleted comments.
- His fiancée says he has not been violent towards her.

## Summary

Brodie A’Vard’s return to his boyhood club, Jerilderie Football Netball Club in regional NSW, has drawn criticism from women and girls who say the appointment makes them feel unsafe. The debate has widened into questions about how local sporting clubs respond to concerns about women’s safety and community complaints.

A’Vard, 36, headbutted his former partner Raychel Lewis in 2022, leaving her unconscious and needing stitches; he was fined $1,200, with charges recorded without conviction. He was also convicted of affray over a separate pub fight and fined $1,000. Several critics say the club deleted comments or blocked accounts after they raised concerns. His fiancée, Kaitlin Link, said he has not been violent towards her and described him as a loving partner and father, while acknowledging that concerns need thoughtful consideration.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.