William Pickett, 28, of Griffith Street, Heywood, appeared in Portland Magistrates Court on Tuesday, seven weeks after his contested hearing began in Warrnambool and a no case submission was rejected by magistrate Mark Stratmann.

Pickett is contesting one charge of recklessly causing injury. He is accused of striking then 17-year-old Sam Lambevski during the last quarter of a match between Heathmere and Branxholme-Wallacedale on July 28 last year.

Lambevski, now 18, suffered a broken jaw and cheekbone.

The third day of the contested hearing on Tuesday heard from three Heathmere Football Netball Club members, including netball timekeeper Elizabeth Carter, reserves player Andrew Stevenson and senior team manager Lee Cleary.

Ms Carter said she did not see the incident in dispute but that she did observe Lambevski "spear tackle" Pickett in the second quarter of the match.

She said Pickett was chasing the ball when Lambevski grabbed him by the shoulders and threw him to the ground.

She said it was an "unnecessary tackle" but the umpire did not award a free kick.

Heathmere senior team manager Lee Cleary said he did not recall any spear tackles occurring in the match.

But, he said he was in close proximity to the incident in which Lambevski was allegedly injured.

He told the court there was "a bit of hip and shouldering" between the two teams, including Pickett and another Branxholme player, who he didn't know but confirmed it wasn't Lambevski.

Mr Cleary said he then observed Lambevski running toward Pickett before yelling something out, which stopped the accused in his tracks.

"Willo (Pickett) stopped straight away and turned around and braced himself for contact as (Lambevski) was running toward him," he said.

The team manager said Pickett had two to three seconds before Lambevski approached him.

He said Pickett's shoulder/upper arm area made contact with the victim, who then fell to the ground.

He said he did not believe Pickett had intentionally struck the victim.

Mr Cleary said the pair were then taken off the ground and another melee broke out between the two coaches boxes.

He said there were six people involved in that melee, which included Lambevski but not Pickett.

Reserves player Andrew Stevenson said there were about 20 people involved.

He told the court players from both teams were pushing, shoving and taking swings at each other.

Mr Stevenson said he saw Lambevski fall to the ground but couldn't be sure why.

Lawyer Michael Kats said the magistrate could not be sure beyond reasonable doubt that Lambevski's injury was caused by Pickett and not in the incident that followed.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Paul Harris said during a police interview Pickett told officers he had acted in self-defence.

The matter was adjourned until the next available date - January 14 next year.

The magistrate will decide if Pickett is guilty.

Pickett is on bail.

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