Collingwood midfielder Ryan Cook has spoken of his relief after the AFL player was not convicted for negligently causing serious injury.

Cook pleaded guilty to the charge and was fined $3500 in Sale Magistrates Court on Monday.

It followed a confrontation in the Victorian country town early last year which left a man with several broken bones in his face.

"I'm just happy the matter is now behind me, it's been a year, so it's good to get it out of the way ... it's good to move on," Cook said.

He was in Sale on January 18 last year for the 21st birthday party of team-mates Scott Pendlebury when the early-morning incident happened.

Cook punched the man twice in the face, causing several fractures, but the court found the Collingwood player had acted in self defence.

"He pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of negligently causing serious injury, after originally being charged with recklessly causing serious injury," the Magpies said in a media statement.

"The magistrate noted in his summing up that Ryan acted in self defence, albeit his self defence was considered excessive, and that the victim had been partially responsible for bringing the matter upon himself."

Collingwood also investigated the incident early last year and took no disciplinary action because Cook acted in self-defence.

Cook has played 14 AFL games, including two last season.

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