Trio accused of Malthouse home invasion to stand trial

It's alleged the men went to Malthouse's top-floor unit in East Melbourne, armed with a crowbar. 

Malthouse, a premiership coach for both Collingwood and West Coast, told the court he heard clamouring outside his door and grabbed an exercise bar before going to investigate.

The 72-year-old described a "chaotic" scuffle on the small top landing and how he cracked one of the men twice with the bar, while he was also injured after being struck with the crowbar.

Malthouse chased the men as they allegedly fled downstairs to the basement garage, where one of them said they "got the wrong building" and "someone owed (them) money".

Malthouse told the court he ordered the group to stand in the corner and away from the exit before he opened the door for them to leave. 

He described in evidence how the trio "streamed past" while he swung the exercise bar at them. 

One of the accused allegedly lunged at Malthouse and "stabbed" him in the sternum with a screwdriver as he left, causing him to bleed.

The three accused fought the charges at a committal hearing in July but magistrate Frances Medina on Thursday determined there was sufficient evidence for the case to go to trial.

She committed Carroll, Mashu and Di Cello to the Victorian County Court on charges including attempted aggravated home invasion and intentionally causing injury to Malthouse. 

The three men, who all appeared via video link from custody, each entered pleas of not guilty.

They will face a directions hearing in the County Court in September.

Malthouse played 174 VFL games for St Kilda and Richmond, including the latter's 1980 premiership, before embarking on a record-breaking 718-game coaching career at four clubs.

He coached West Coast to premierships in 1992 and 1994, while he led Collingwood to their 2010 flag.