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AFL Hall of Famer to stand trial for historical child sexual abuse

AFL Hall of Famer to stand trial for historical child sexual abuse

The former ruckman played 285 games for St Kilda and Melbourne over a 17-year career.

Ditterich was one of the most reported players in AFL/VFL history, appearing before the tribunal 19 times and being suspended for 30 matches. He missed St Kilda’s only premiership in 1966 while serving a six-match ban.

He is a member of St Kilda’s Team of the Century and was also inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

AFL chairman Richard Goyder said in April that the league would wait for Ditterich’s court proceedings to conclude before making a decision on his Hall of Fame status.

The AFL Commission stripped disgraced legend Barry Cable of his Hall of Fame honours in 2023 after a judge found he sexually abused a Perth girl at the height of his playing career.

The North Melbourne (VFL), Perth and East Perth (both WAFL) premiership player had been upgraded to “legend” status in 2012.

Ditterich will next face court on November 18.

AAP

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