Vic footballer acquitted of manslaughter

A Victorian amateur footballer who said he acted in self-defence when he fatally punched another man in a drunken Adelaide street fight has been acquitted of manslaughter.

Bradley John Nelson was on an end-of-season trip with other members of the Inverleigh football club, from west of Geelong, when he punched Clint Hislop, 28, in October 2012.

The South Australian Supreme Court jury was told Mr Hislop had been aggressive and punched two footballers before being ejected from a backpackers' hostel at Glenelg.

The crown alleged some of the footballers followed Mr Hislop into the street where there were several skirmishes before he was punched in the face by Mr Nelson.

He fell and hit his head on the road, causing the brain injury from which he later died.

Mr Nelson, who was found not guilty by the jury on Friday, testified that he acted in self-defence, saying he had been scared for his life and thought Mr Hislop was going to hurt him.