AFL great Carl Ditterich charged with child sex offences

Carl Ditterich, a former Australian Rules Football (AFL) player and coach, was charged with multiple child sex offenses by Victoria Police on March 23, 2023. The charges stem from an alleged incident that occurred in 1985 involving a then-underage girl.

Ditterich, who played for North Melbourne Football Club between 1977 and 1983, made his AFL debut in 1977 and went on to play a total of 73 games for the club. He was a key forward and was known for his strong marking and goal-scoring abilities. After retiring from playing, he went on to coach various football teams, including North Melbourne's reserves and the South Melbourne Swans in the Victorian Football Association (VFA).

The charges against Ditterich came to light after a woman contacted police in late 2022 to report an incident that had allegedly occurred over three decades ago. The woman claimed that Ditterich had sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager in 1985.

Following an investigation by Victoria Police's Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team (SOTAT), Ditterich was arrested and charged with multiple counts of sexual penetration of a child under the age of 16 and indecent assault of a child under the age of 16. He was released on bail and is due to appear at Melbourne Magistrates' Court on April 20, 2023.

The AFL and North Melbourne Football Club have both expressed their concern for the victim and their support for anyone affected by child sexual abuse. North Melbourne Football Club stated that they were cooperating fully with police and would continue to do so throughout the legal process.

It is important to note that all allegations of child sexual abuse are taken seriously and that anyone who has been affected by such incidents is encouraged to report them to the police or other appropriate authorities. The charges against Carl Ditterich are yet to be proven in court.