Former premiership-winning AFL player Glenn Archer has apologised for jumping a fence at a junior football match and getting into an altercation with a runner.

Police were called to an oval in Heidelberg on Sunday afternoon after reports a runner had been assaulted but the offender left before officers arrived, Victoria Police said in a statement.

Former North Melbourne player Archer told SEN radio he was watching his son play in the match and got into an altercation with the opposition’s runner after a punch-on between players in which an umpire became involved.

“Half time rolls around and the opposition coaching staff, and their runner was screaming and swearing at me,” Archer told SEN on Monday morning.

“I fended him off and it turned into a screaming match.”

Archer denied assaulting the runner and said he left to defuse the situation.

Later on Monday morning Archer released a statement through his former club.

“I would like to apologise unreservedly for my involvement in what transpired at a junior football match in Heidelberg on Sunday,” he said.

“Jumping the fence to defend a player was inappropriate and unacceptable.

“The incident that occurred several minutes later with the opposition team’s runner was also unfortunate.

“I would like to reinforce that under no circumstances should spectators or parents intervene in any on-field matters with players or officials, at any level.

“I regret my initial decision to enter the field of play and acknowledge it was wrong.”

Archer, who has been a North Melbourne board member for two years, promised to co-operate fully with the Yarra Junior Football League if it investigates the matter further.