Former Geelong footballer Paul Brown is in a stable condition in hospital after being the victim of an alleged coward punch attack at Shepparton.

Witnesses claim Mr Brown went to the aid of a young woman in distress outside a Vaughan St shop about 9.15pm on Friday before being allegedly hit by a man involved in the incident.

Mr Brown, 46, struck his head on concrete pavement on the ground, suffering a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain.

A 19-year-old Shepparton man was arrested shortly after the attack and bailed to appear? before? Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on January 11.

Mr Brown played 84 games for the Cats, including the 1994 and 1995 grand finals.

‘If you asked anybody from Geelong from that 1990s period who the best bloke they played with was – everyone would say Paul Brown,’ Jon Anderson said on 3AW Breakfast.

‘He is just a lovely person.

‘I just hope and pray he comes through.’