AFL agent Nixon loses licence after car crash

CONTROVERSIAL AFL players’ agent Ricky Nixon has lost his driver’s licence for 10 months and been fined $1,250 after pleading guilty to crashing his car into a tram in March.

Nixon appeared in Melbourne Magistrates’ Court yesterday and later expressed regret for his actions.

The 45-year-old, who has held recruiting camps in Ireland for AFL clubs and is planning to start coaching Aussie Rules in primary schools, crashed his Alfa Romeo into a tram on March 11, before fleeing the scene of the accident.

He recorded a blood-alcohol level of 0.108, more than twice the legal limit, when police breath-tested him at his home after the accident. He was taken to Collingwood Police Station where he was given a more comprehensive breath test and blood tests.

Nixon’s lawyer Garry Hindson said his client had not eaten or had a drink all day and had just finished giving a lecture to students when he decided to have a couple of margaritas.

“He didn’t think he was over the limit but clearly he was,” Hindson said. Nixon had been travelling at 20-25km/h when he hit the back of the tram, the lawyer added.

Hindson said Nixon had immediately apologised to the tram driver and had given him his details. He said Nixon had been at the scene for 29 minutes before he made the wrong decision to leave.

The reason given for that decision was that Nixon had become concerned about the “negative vibes” of some of the passengers on the tram who had started to abuse him.

Nixon had already repaid Yarra Trams $1,178.75 in “delay costs” over the incident.

Outside the court, he expressed remorse over the crash. “I made a mistake and I’m relieved it’s over. I accept the penalty,” Nixon said.