The son of AFL great Sam Newman believes he could have become a legend of the game like his father – if it wasn’t for an NBA star who allegedly bullied him at school.

Max Jones, 25, claims Jock Landale, 28, who plays for the Houston Rockets, broke his back while the pair were housed together at Geelong Grammar in 2013.

Jones is Newman’s youngest son from his relationship with Leonie Jones.

Max Jones (left) alongside his famous father Sam Newman

Ms Jones is the woman who ran Newman over in 1997, breaking his leg.

Mr Jones is suing both Geelong Grammar and Landale for what can now be revealed to be as much as $2million.

Geelong Grammar is among Australia’s most exclusive private schools, where fees cost $40,000 a year. The then Prince Charles, now King Charles III, attended the school for six months in 1966.

Court documents state Mr Jones was in year 10 and Landale was in year 12 when the older boy allegedly assaulted him.

Mr Jones claims he had been sitting quietly watching television in the common room in Manifold House – one of the original three Houses of Geelong Grammar – when Landale and his mate entered armed with a portable speaker.

With the music pumping, Mr Jones alleged Landale placed the speaker on a nearby table before picking him up by his shoulders and slamming him to the ground.

Mr Jones alleges Landale then literally danced on him, leaving him with what he claims are life-changing injuries.

The matter is expected to make it to court next year, with both defendants hotly contesting the claims.

In documents recently filed with the court, Mr Jones claimed he had plans to follow in his father’s footsteps as an AFL player where he believed he could earn big bucks both on and off the field.

Mr Jones has made no secret of his desire to be a television personality, telling the Herald Sun in 2020 he still believed he could make it.

‘I love sport and have seen the highs and lows and good and bad sides of it through dad, both on and off TV,’ he said at the time.

‘I would really love to get into [TV]. That is what I am trying to strive towards.’

Max Jones (right) claims he was used like a dance floor during a savage attack while boarding at Geelong Grammar

Houston Rockets star Jock Landale (left) has been accused of using Max Jones like a dance floor while they were at school. He is pictured with his partner Indi Maddern

Mr Jones claimed Landale’s attack ‘derailed’ his football dreams and blamed the school for failing to protect him.

‘[Geelong Grammar] owed a non-delegable duty of care to [Mr Jones] to exercise such care for the safety of [him] as a careful parent would take of his or her own children,’ his lawyers submitted in a statement of claim.

While Mr Jones admitted to suffering some back pain before the alleged incident, he claimed the attack was to blame for what has become life-long suffering.

‘Following the incident [Mr Jones] was winded and in pain. He had previous back pain which was made significantly worse by the incident,’ his lawyers stated.

Mr Jones claimed he continued to suffer from muscle and spinal problems 10 years on from the alleged assault, which has hampered his ability to work.

His lawyers believe he could have earned more than $740,000 in a sports media career or more than $1.2million had he been able to work in general management.

After leaving Geelong Grammar, Mr Jones worked as a bartender and studied a Bachelor of Leadership and management at RMIT before withdrawing five months later, the Herald Sun reported.

He worked casually as a waiter and undertook an internship with the Essendon Football Club in 2019 before withdrawing from a Bachelor of Media and Communications during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Max Jones, the youngest son of Sam Newman (pictured), is suing his former school

Basketball star Jock Landale (pictured with fiancée Indi Maddern) is being sued by Max Jones over an alleged incident at Geelong Grammar in 2013

Houston Rockets star Jock Landale (left) looks to drive to the rim as Denver Nuggets guard Julian Strawther defends in the first half of an NBA basketball game on November 29. Landale is accused of being a school bully

Mr Jones claimed he was taken to Cabrini Hospital for his injuries the very next day.

‘While in immense physical pain, [Mr Jones]… ultimately underwent L4/L5 laminectomy surgery on February 8, 2013,’ the court was told.

‘[He] continues to experience back pain, including occasional leg weakness as a result of the injuries arising from the incident.’

Mr Jones is suing both Geelong and Landale for loss of past and future earnings and medical expenses, and enlisted legal firm Arnold Thomas and Becker to represent him.

‘The incident constituted a battery at common law for which the ­second defendant [Landale] is directly liable’, the writ stated.

‘As a result of the incident and the injuries caused by the incident, the plaintiff’s ability to concentrate and the study was prejudiced.’

Geelong Grammar has ­denied the allegations and claimed Mr Jones did not report any assault at the time.

Landale has also denied the alleged assault and other allegations made against him by Mr Jones.