Teenage girl kept graphic diary notes of her alleged sexual abuse by AFL legend Carl Ditterich, court told

Former AFL great Carl Ditterich has been forced to stare down a woman who has accused him of sexually assaulting her while she was a child in his care in the 1980s. 

Ditterich, known as the Blonde Bomber, had a distinguished career playing for 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 top Melbourne silk Ruth Shann, KC, who has defended leading figures including Cardinal George Pell and notorious druglord Tony Mokbel. 

The former football great faces three counts of indecent assault and one count of gross indecency, all involving a single alleged victim who was then aged under 16. 

The alleged victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was the first witness to enter the witness box. 

The court heard Ditterich is accused of touching the young girl’s breast while she was under his care on August 27, 1985 in Moorabbin, the suburb where Ditterich became a football star. 

Prosecutors claimed the fact Ditterich was allegedly acting in a position of power over the then-child added weight to his moral culpability. 

Ditterich was known as the ‘Blonde Bomber’ during his playing days because of his shock of blonde hair and aggressive playing style

‘The prosecution is alleging the circumstances of aggravation and that’s particularised in the charge as a person who was under his care, supervision or authority,’ a prosecutor told the court. 

The court heard Ditterich’s alleged victim had kept a diary, which alleged other instances of ‘sexual activity’ with the former footballer. 

That diary will make up a brief of evidence that is expected to be tendered to the court at the conclusion of the preliminary hearing. 

The court heard the alleged victim made two statements to police, with the second containing more information than the first. 

‘Your honour will note in relation to the second statement there is a significant change in recollections,’ Ms Shan told the court. 

The contents of that second statement were expected to be heavily scrutinised by Ms Shan during her cross examination of the woman. 

‘Depending on what the complainant says about what the process is, by which suddenly she recalls so much more, I can either make the application (to address that issue) now or at the time as to being able to ask what’s happening in that interim period between the first statement and the second,’ she said. 

The court heard while the alleged victim would provide her evidence in a closed court, she would do so in full view of Ditterich. 

Alleged victims of sexual crimes often appear via videolink or provide their evidence from behind a screen so they do not need to look at their alleged attacker. 

‘A screen is not required. Not requested,’ the prosecutor said. 

The alleged attack happened when Ditterich was aged in his early 40s, shortly after ending his AFL career. 

The charges were issued by the Bayside Sexual Offences and Child-abuse Investigation Team. 

‘Bayside Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team detectives have charged a man following an investigation into alleged historic child sex offences,’ a statement by police at the time said.

Ditterich [pictured right] was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame in Melbourne in 2004

The alleged incident happened after Ditterich’s playing career for St Kilda and Melbourne had concluded

Known for his dynamic debut at 17 and his robust playing style as a ruckman, Ditterich’s aggressive approach to the game often led him to the VFL Tribunal, notably causing him to miss St Kilda’s 1966 premiership 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 coaching stint at Melbourne. 

‘He was an exciting and controversial footballer from start to finish and made a rich contribution to the club’s history,’ Ditterich’s St Kilda Hall of Fame profile reads.

‘He possessed that rare and indefinable quality – presence – and whenever he was on the field, the rest of the side walked tall. Ditterich was a natural athlete and combined the height of a ruckman with the pace and agility of a ruck-rover.’ 

The hearing continues.