- He faces three counts of indecent assault and one count of gross indecency.
- Victoria Police have confirmed the arrest and charges laid against Ditterich.
- New Hall of Fame rules could mean AFL removes him
The AFL could face calls to expel Carl Ditterich from its Hall of Fame following the implementation of dismissal policies introduced just last year.
It comes after Ditterich was charged with multiple child sex crimes on Friday in connection with an alleged incident that occurred in 1985.
Updated Hall of Fame exclusion guidelines came into play when Barry Cable, a celebrated figure in North Melbourne and Perth football circles, was expelled.
This action followed a court ruling in Western Australia, which convicted him of sexually assaulting a young girl on numerous occasions throughout his career, including a rape incident in the Perth Football Club changing rooms in 1971.
In anticipation of the verdict against Cable, the AFL Commission amended the Hall of Fame bylaws in June of the previous year.
Under the revised criteria, the AFL Commission has the authority to suspend or remove any member of the Hall of Fame if he or she is charged with or found guilty of a serious crime, or if he or she engages in behavior that the commission considers detrimental to the AFL Commission. interests of the AFL.
Inductees may also face suspension or dismissal for actions that, in the commission’s opinion, could tarnish the reputation of the AFL, the individual concerned, any AFL team or the sport of Australian rules football as a whole.
Ditterich was known as the ‘Blonde Bomber’ during his playing days due to his blonde hair and aggressive playing style.
![Ditterich [pictured right] He was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in Melbourne in 2004.](https://wtsn2.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/1712901880_737_Former-St-Kilda-and-Melbourne-ruckman-Carl-Ditterich-charged-with.jpg "AFL great Carl Ditterich could be removed from Hall of Fame after being accused of historic child sexuality offences. 17")
Ditterich [pictured right] He was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in Melbourne in 2004.
The alleged incident occurred after Ditterich’s playing career at St Kilda and Melbourne concluded.
Ditterich, 78, faces three counts of indecent assault and one count of gross indecency, all related to a single alleged victim.
He was due to appear in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.
The arrest, confirmed by Victoria Police, relates to an allegation that Ditterich assaulted a child in Heatherton, southeast of Melbourne, when he was in his early 40s, shortly after finishing his AFL career.
The charges were issued by the Bayside Sexual Crimes and Child Abuse Investigation Team (SOCIT).
“Detectives from the Bayside Child Abuse and Sexual Crimes Investigation Team have charged a man following an investigation into alleged historical child sex crimes,” the statement said.
‘Incidents against a victim [allegedly] It happened in Heatherton in 1985.
Ditterich, who now lives in Echuca, has hired Tony Hargreaves, a well-known criminal lawyer, to defend him.
The Herald Sun reported that Hargreaves appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court and produced a medical certificate from Bendigo Health for Ditterich, who was absent from the hearing.
This certificate was presented to account for Ditterich’s absence.
Ditterich is due back in court on June 28 for an arraignment.