AFL legend Glenn Archer apologises after hitting cyclist with truck

North Melbourne legend Glenn Archer has apologised over a truck crash that left a cyclist with life-long injuries in Melbourne.

The 49-year-old has told 9News that he didn't realise he had hit someone when he was driving in Heidelberg on January 11.

However the cyclist, Mark Vander, said he is mentally broken by the incident.

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"He just swerved in and took me out and drove off and didn't stop," Vander said.

Archer, who is an AFL premiership hero, part-owns a tree removalist business and was driving on Rosanna Road last month when the crash happened.

"I am terribly sorry for what happened absolutely," he said.

The 58-year-old cyclist was crushed and spent two nights at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

"I just get angry all the time now, mentally it just breaks you," Vander said.

"To leave me dying in the ditch and drive off.

"It could have been a lot worse, if I wasn't wearing such a good helmet I wouldn't be here telling the story."

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Vander claims he called the business a number of times but the company denied any wrongdoing.

It wasn't until dashcam footage surfaced that Archer realised what had happened.

"I thought 'wow, I did knock the guy off the bike'," he said.

"At the start, we were getting phone calls asking for money, I thought it was a scam."

Archer has been charged with careless driving and failing to keep a safe distance when overtaking.

He will front the Heidelberg Magistrates court in July.