Trio sentenced for AFL player brawl

Three men have avoided jail over a brawl involving two AFL players.

Melbourne player Jeff Garlett and Brisbane Lions recruit Mitch Robinson became embroiled in the street fight last year after Garlett argued with two women over a taxi, a court has heard.

The scrimmage erupted after the women's male friends became involved, with Garlett struck and knocked unconscious by a traffic bollard and Robinson suffering a fractured eye socket and nerve damage.

Emmanuel Golong, 27, Abram Hothnyang, 22, and Liep Kuel, 27, pleaded guilty to charges of affray and recklessly causing injury stemming from the early-morning Melbourne CBD brawl.

They were issued 18-month community corrections orders in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday, with convictions recorded.

The orders include 300 hours of community service each.

Magistrate Franz Holzer told them they had good prospects for the future but their offending was serious, and they would have been jailed immediately if they had not pleaded guilty.

"You made some very poor choices," he said.

"You got caught up in the moment ... you let it consume you."

Garlett has also been charged with affray and is due to appear in court in March, but Robinson was not charged.

The pair, both 25, were Carlton teammates at the time of the August 3 brawl but have since joined other clubs.

Garlett's brother Gerald and another man were also involved in the brawl, the court heard.