CCTV showing Melbourne footballer Jeff Garlett’s involvement in a brutal street fight over a taxi has been released to the public.

The wild brawl left Garlett in hospital with a large gash to the head while former Carlton teammate Mitch Robinson suffered a fractured eye socket.

Garlett escaped an affray conviction on Monday after a magistrate accepted he was a victim of the brawl in August last year.

Garlett, who played 109 games for Carlton before being traded to Melbourne, pleaded guilty to behaving in a riotous manner and was placed on a diversion program.

Garlett was originally charged with affray following the brawl, which involved dozens of men outside a bar in Lonsdale Street.

The melee broke out about 5am on Lonsdale St in Melbourne’s CBD after Garlett allegedly tried to jump into a cab that was already occupied by two women.

The dispute escalated to the point that a friend of the women knocked out Garlett from behind with a plastic traffic bollard.

Garlett was out cold for a few minute and needed stitches to his head.

Another friend of the women king-hit Robinson from behind.

Both Robinson and Garlett were fined $5000 by the Blues at the time and missed games in the club’s unsuccessful run-up to the finals.

Defence lawyer Anna Balmer told magistrate Franz Holzer that Garlett had gone about mentoring young Aboriginal players since the brawl and would continue to do so through the Demons and the Fitzroy Stars.

Mr Holzer ordered Garlett to be of good behaviour until November 16 and to continue his mentoring roles with the clubs.

Earlier this year, Liep Kuel, 27, pleaded guilty to nine charges, including recklessly causing injury to Garlett.

His mates Emmanuel Golong, 27, and Abram Hothnyang, 23, both pleaded guilty to a charge of affray and recklessly causing injury to Robinson.

Each of the men were convicted of the charges and sentenced to an 18-month community corrections order and required perform 300 hours of unpaid work and undergo anger management counselling.

Kuel, who was unlicensed and over the legal limit when he ran a red light as he drove his mates away from the fight, was convicted of those offences, suspended from driving for 18 months and fined $1600.

He and the two co-accused were also fined $250 each for giving false names to police.

Last month, Garlett was put off the road for 11 months and fined $459 after being caught drink-driving.

Garlett registered a .115 per cent blood alcohol limit when pulled over on Sydney Rd, Brunswick on July 14 last year.