AFL Coach Mick Malthouse injured, stabbed fighting off home invaders at Melbourne apartment, attackers on loose

Former AFL premiership coach Mick Malthouse confronted three masked intruders attempting to break into his East Melbourne apartment at approximately 12:30 a.m. Thursday, September 4. The 72-year-old ABC Sport commentator was awake when he heard unusual metallic sounds outside his residence.

Malthouse armed himself with a gym bar he keeps near his bed before investigating the disturbance at his apartment door.

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AFL Coach confronts armed home invaders

The home invasion attempt escalated when Malthouse discovered the three men attempting to force entry into his apartment. The intruders were equipped with a crowbar and screwdriver, according to the AFL coach.

"As I pushed the door it was total resistance. There was three blokes behind there and I banged into them. One had a crowbar-type thing to leverage the door open, the other one had, I think, a screwdriver," Malthouse told the ABC.

"It became a bit of push and shove. At the time I knew that I couldn't let them in — it's only me and my wife. If I had got knocked out she's totally defenceless."

Mick Malthouse chases intruders down four flights of stairs

Malthouse successfully forced the home invaders away from his apartment entrance, pursuing them down four flights of stairs to the building's basement level.

"I was able to get them down the stairs by swinging this thing (gym bar) and got them down four flights of stairs to the basement," he said.

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The confrontation continued in the basement area where the intruders became cornered with limited escape routes.

AFL coach injured during basement confrontation

The situation intensified when the masked men found themselves trapped in the basement with only one exit available. During the struggle, one intruder attacked Malthouse with a screwdriver.

"It was like herding cats, quite frankly," he said.

"I managed to get them away from the door and was able to get the door open and as we passed by one sort of lunged at me a bit and hit me in the chest with the screwdriver. It went into the chest a little bit. I'm OK. There's not a lot of damage."

Malthouse managed to wrestle the crowbar away from another intruder before the trio fled the scene.

"I was able to wrestle the crowbar out of the hands of the other bloke. Once they knew that I had two weapons and they didn't hang around. They ran down the street."

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Police investigation continues into Malthouse home invasion

Melbourne police are continuing their investigation into the attempted home invasion at the AFL coach's East Melbourne residence. Malthouse praised law enforcement's response to the incident.

"I'm going OK, I'm more concerned about my wife [Nanette], and children for that matter ... because they all think they should be here looking after their 72-year-old father," Malthouse told the ABC.

"I'm only now starting to think about [what would have happened] had they got in."

Mick Malthouse's AFL coaching career

Malthouse achieved significant success during his AFL coaching career, winning three premierships. He led West Coast to their first two championships in 1992 and 1994, then secured Collingwood a flag in 2010. The veteran coach now provides commentary for ABC Sport.