Former Geelong Cats player suffers fractured skull in alleged assault

A former Geelong Cats player has suffered serious head injuries after reportedly intervening in a fight between a young man and woman.

Paul Brown, 46, who played in two grand finals for the Cats, is in a serious but stable condition at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, the Herald Sun reports.

According to friends, Brown was punched after he intervened in a "heated" argument outside some shops at Shepparton at about 9.15pm on Friday night.

His alleged attack was said to have screamed "What are you looking at?" before unleashing the punch.

Brown fell back and hit his head on the pavement, suffering a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain, and was treated by paramedics at the scene.

He was taken to Goulburn Valley Base Hospital but his condition deteriorated and he was rushed to The Alfred.

A 19-year-old Shepparton man was arrested and is due to appear before Shepparton Magistrates' Court on January 11.

Brown played 84 games for Geelong including in the 1994 and 1995 grand finals.