Source : ABC NEWS
Legendary AFL coach Mick Malthouse smashed an intruder in the head with an exercise bar as he defended his family during an alleged attempted home invasion last year, a Melbourne court has heard.
New details about the alleged break-in attempt and surrounding events were revealed in court today, as one of the three men charged made a bail application.
Victoria Police detective Tyler Sherlock alleged one of the accused, Joshua Di Cello, stole a key fob from a construction company that completed cladding work on Mr Malthouse’s apartment complex on September 1 last year.
Mr Di Cello and co-accused Aysar Mashu and Andrew Carroll allegedly arrived at the complex just after midnight on September 4, and used an internal stairwell to try to break into Mr Malthouse’s penthouse, Mr Sherlock said.
“Malthouse described hearing noises from the front door … Malthouse confronted Di Cello, Mashu and Carroll and observed them in possession of a jimmy bar, actively trying to break through the door,” he told the court.
“Malthouse swung an exercise pole at them before they retreated to the basement.”
Mick Malthouse coached 718 AFL games. (AAP: Julian Smith)
A second confrontation occurred when Mr Malthouse, 72, followed the group, who were by that stage allegedly trying to break open a door to flee, the court heard.
“Carroll raised a jimmy bar he was in possession of. Malthouse struck Carroll in the head with the exercise bar causing Carroll to drop it,” Mr Sherlock said.
Mr Malthouse was stabbed in the chest with a screwdriver by Mr Mashu, the court heard. The injuries were superficial and did not cause any organ damage.
About an hour later, Mr Carroll was seen on CCTV with “a significant welt under his left eye”, Mr Sherlock said.
The court heard Mr Malthouse later told officers, “I managed to crack one of them with the exercise bar … I whacked him twice.”
Other properties allegedly targeted
Police allege Mr Di Cello worked with others to commit a series of property and car thefts between August and September 2025.
It is alleged Joshua Di Cello and two others attempted to break in to Mick Malthouse’s apartment last year. (Supplied)
Locations targeted included jewellery shops, offices and a Dandenong South property where $60,000 worth of boxed children’s toys were stolen, Mr Sherlock said.
He is alleged to have been decked out in Nike sportswear during several of the incidents.
Mr Di Cello, Mr Mashu and Mr Carroll have since been arrested and are on remand.
The trio are yet to enter a plea in respect to the alleged break-in of Mr Malthouse’s property.
Mr Di Cello’s lawyer, Nadia Giogianni, said her client was seeking bail so he could attend a drug rehabilitation centre. She also said her client, 36, was a vulnerable person with an intellectual disability.
However, Mr Sherlock said it was in the community’s interests for him to remain in custody, citing his lengthy criminal history.
“He’s a persistent, prolific thief,” Mr Sherlock said.
A magistrate denied Mr Di Cello’s bail application this afternoon.
