Alexander Grutteria in Melbourne court accused of throwing water bottle at AFL umpire Steven Piperno

A Carlton fan charged after a goal umpire was hit in the head with a water bottle during a Carlton v St Kilda game at Marvel will argue it can’t be proven it was he who threw the missile.

A Carlton fan charged after a goal umpire was hit in the head with a water bottle during a match will argue it can’t be proven he threw the missile as there’s not enough footage.

Dressed in an all black suit, Alexander Grutteria, 23, faced Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday charged with recklessly cause injury, discharge a missile and unlawful assault.

Mr Grutteria is accused of throwing a “partially filled” water bottle onto the field during the Round 24 match between Carlton and St Kilda at Marvel Stadium, which hit umpire Steven Piperno.

Alexander Grutteria faces the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court accused of throwing a water bottle at AFL umpire Steven Piperno. Picture: Athos Sirianos

The court heard the bottle was allegedly thrown with about 13 minutes to go in the second quarter from the vicinity of the Carlton cheer squad after a free kick was paid against the Blues which “angered the cheer squad”.

The court heard the goal umpire suffered a 2cm laceration which resulted in “moderate bleeding” and had to be taken off the field after the alleged attack.

AFL umpire Steven Piperno suffered a 2cm cut after the water bottle hit him. Picture: Supplied

In court on Friday Mr Grutteria’s lawyer Sylvia Barbadonis said “identification (was) an issue” in this case, with no CCTV or broadcast footage capturing anyone throwing the bottle.

The court heard the only footage of Mr Grutteria was of him sitting inside the stadium and leaving the ground “with others in the same vicinity”.

The water bottle hit the back of Piperno’s head before bouncing near the goals. Picture: Supplied

The alleged incident occurred on August 25, with Mr Grutteria arrested two days later.

Days after the alleged August assault, the Northcote man was banned for life from all AFL and AFLW matches.

The AFL at the time confirmed the man previously held a three-game Carlton membership but was no longer eligible to purchase an AFL membership of any kind.

Mr Grutteria will appear for contest mention in January 2025.