Brisbane boss Malcolm Holmes admits Daniel Rich is the Lions player caught in the middle of a police investigation into the alleged assault of a wheelchair-bound man but claims the youngster is not guilty of any wrongdoing.

Holmes said a club investigation had found there was no evidence of bad behaviour and claimed Rich had merely pushed the disabled man to a taxi rank in Toowong in Brisbane’s inner west on Sunday night.

However, Holmes said the benefit of hindsight had taught Rich – who he admitted had been drinking on the eve of the club’s Mad Monday session – a big lesson.

The Lions launched an internal probe after reports emerged on Friday morning that police were investigating a high profile Lions player for allegedly tipping a disabled man out of his wheelchair before taking his cab on Sunday night.

The player then allegedly threw food at the disabled man when he complained about his cab being taken.

But Holmes said on Friday night: “From our investigations today we have found no one acted in an unlawful manner.

“There have been variations between what was reported this morning in the media compared to what we have found.

“It is an allegation we have found no evidence of.”

Holmes still admitted Rich would have done things differently on Sunday night in hindsight.

“On Daniel’s behalf there is no intention for him to cause any distress or harm to the individual,” he said.

“Hindsight is a wonderful gift and Daniel will be acutely aware now that he shouldn’t have wheeled the gentleman.

“We have also spoken to the police today and their position is that they have no intention of talking to anyone at the Brisbane Lions but of course if that changes we will co-operate with them.

“I think this is a very good reminder that all AFL players are role models and they have a responsibility to act accordingly.”

The allegations levelled at Rich came the same week St Kilda’s Clinton Jones was fined $3000 for setting a dwarf entertainer alight during the AFL club’s end of season drinks.

Jones was also forced to apologise and make a charity donation after using a gas lighter to set the dwarf entertainer’s clothes alight at an end of season Saints function in South Melbourne on Monday.

The entertainer did not make a formal complaint to police.