Broker Ian Goninon has yet to decide whether to proceed with legal action against Tasmanian Deputy Premier Bryan Green following an incident at the AFL grand final in Melbourne in which he suffered a bloodied nose.

Mr Goninon, who is a prominent northern Tasmania broker and a local councillor, was attending the match in a group of about 30 guests of QBE. He was seated close to Mr Green, who was with a Tasmanian Government delegation.

Witnesses say there was an exchange of words between the two men, but Mr Goninon told the ABC he was “there with a few mates, we were having normal football banter and nothing was directed at him [Mr Green] whatsoever”.

An incident later between the two men ended with Mr Goninon leaving the ground with a bloodied nose. He alleges Mr Green hit him, but Mr Green says he “didn’t do anything that I believe would hurt him”.

Mr Goninon told insuranceNEWS.com.au the national media attention following the incident on September 28 was unexpected, unwelcome and “very embarrassing”. He says some articles and statements about the incident have been defamatory.

“There have been all sorts of comments made that simply aren’t true,” he said. “I wasn’t drunk – I had only had a few light beers. I wasn’t marched out of the place by police; I left of my own accord.”

While he agrees there was an exchange of words between him and the Deputy Premier, he says he did not provoke Mr Green.

He says he will consider his legal options while working interstate this week.