Former AFL player Carl Ditterich has been forced to confront a woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was a child in his care in the 1980s.
Ditterich, known as the Blonde Bomber, had a distinguished career playing for the St Kilda and Melbourne Football Clubs in the VFL, and later served as Melbourne’s captain-coach for two years.
Ditterich, 78, who lives in Moama on the New South Wales border with Victoria, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court with his defence team on Tuesday.
He is being represented by prominent Melbourne activist Ruth Shann, KC, who has defended senior figures including Cardinal George Pell and notorious drug lord Tony Mokbel.
The former football star faces three charges of indecent assault and one charge of gross indecency, all relating to a single alleged victim who was under 16 at the time.
The alleged victim, whose name cannot be revealed for legal reasons, was the first witness to take the stand.
The court heard Ditterich is accused of touching the girl’s breast while she was in his care on August 27, 1985 in Moorabbin, the suburb where Ditterich became a soccer star.
Prosecutors said the fact that Ditterich allegedly acted in a position of power over the then-girl added weight to his moral culpability.
Former AFL star Carl Ditterich enters Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday
Ditterich was known as the ‘Blonde Bomber’ during his playing days due to his blonde hair and aggressive playing style.
“The prosecution alleges aggravating circumstances and that is particularized in the indictment as a person who was under their care, supervision or authority,” a prosecutor told the court.
The court heard that Ditterich’s alleged victim had kept a diary alleging other instances of “sexual activity” with the former footballer.
This diary will constitute a written record of evidence that is expected to be presented to the court at the conclusion of the preliminary hearing.
The court heard that the alleged victim made two statements to police, with the second containing more information than the first.
“Your honour will note that in relation to the second statement there is a significant change in recollection,” Ms Shan told the court.
Ms Shan was expected to scrutinize the content of that second statement during her questioning of the woman.
“Depending on what the complainant says about what the process is, by which she suddenly remembers a lot more, I can make the request (to address that issue) now or at the time of being able to ask what is happening in that interim period between the first statement and the second,” he said.
The court heard that while the alleged victim would give her testimony behind closed doors, she would do so in full view of Ditterich.
Alleged victims of sexual crimes often appear via video link or give their evidence from behind a screen so they do not have to look at their alleged attacker.
“The screen is not necessary. It is not requested,” the prosecutor said.
The alleged attack occurred when Ditterich was in his 40s, shortly after ending his AFL career.
The charges were issued by the Bayside Child Abuse and Sexual Crimes Investigation Team.
“Detectives from the Bayside Child Abuse and Sexual Crimes Investigation Team have charged a man following an investigation into alleged historical sexual offences against children,” according to a police statement at the time.
Ditterich (pictured right) was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in Melbourne in 2004.
The alleged incident occurred after Ditterich’s playing career for St Kilda and Melbourne had concluded.
Known for his dynamic debut as a 17-year-old and his robust style of play as a ruckman, Ditterich’s aggressive approach to the game often took him to the VFL Tribunal, notably resulting in him missing St Kilda’s 1966 championship win due to suspension.
Throughout his career, Ditterich made significant moves between clubs, including a notable transfer to Melbourne under the “10-year rule” and a return to St Kilda, before ending his playing career with a stint as coach at Melbourne.
“He was an exciting and controversial footballer from start to finish and made a rich contribution to the club’s history,” reads Ditterich’s profile in St Kilda’s Hall of Fame.
“He had that rare, indefinable quality of presence and whenever he was on the field the rest of the team walked upright. Ditterich was a natural athlete and combined the height of a ruckman with the pace and agility of a ruckrover.”
The hearing continues.