Former Carlton player blames loss of identity for driving him into a life of drugs

A court has heard details of former Carlton footballer Ron De Iulio’s “difficulties and setbacks” that led to him facing drug-related charges.

Former Carlton footballer Ron De Iulio has blamed a loss of identity since hanging up his boots and the isolation of Covid for driving him into a life of drugs.

It comes as it can be revealed the ex-AFL player has been in hospital with doctors fighting to save his leg after he was hit by a scooter earlier this year.

The horrific injuries come just months after he had also suffered a stroke in October.

The details of his “difficulties and setbacks” in recent months were aired by his lawyer Zoe Davis as De Iulio faced drug-related charges in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

The court heard police found him carrying 4.6g of ice, $4350 cash and two mobile phones in a black bum bag when stopping him on Swanston St, just north of Flinders Street Station, in Melbourne about 3.15pm on June 18 last year.

He came to the attention of patrolling officers after appearing to be “nervous” in their presence and tried to move away from them.

De Iulio, who will celebrate his 50th birthday later this week, told the officers he was not carrying anything illegal.

He later explained the trafficable amount of drugs was for his personal use and the cash was to buy a couch.

De Iulio, who played more than 100 games with the Blues during the 1990s, was charged with possessing a drug of dependence and dealing in property suspected of being proceeds of crime.

Appearing in court via video link, De Iulio, through his lawyer, begged the magistrate for a “second chance” and to be placed on the court’s diversion program so he could avoid a conviction.

Carlton’s Ron De Iulio in action in 1998.

He said publicity about his arrest and his subsequent health issues had been “a wake-up call”.

Trying to explain his fall from grace, Ms Davis said often people like De Iulio, who was once in the spotlight as a respected AFL player, “buckle under pressure” and “lose a bit of identity” when that career ends.

But magistrate Rose Falla said the fact he was a former footballer has “little relevance in my mind”.

“It’s put there was a loss of identity — that may have … resulted in him making poor choices,” she said.

“I appreciate he may of enjoyed a time when he was a well known AFL footballer — that seems to have been some years ago. What has he been doing?”

Ms Davis said De Iulio was working in construction but that ended due to the pandemic, resulting in him suffering financial pressures and personal isolation.

She said he had little recollection of the months before his stroke in October, which has made him a different person to when he was first arrested and charged.

“He is immobile. He is hospital bound. He has an entirely different life now,” she said.

The stroke, she said, meant he was “learning to function again as a person” and was “struggling to walk”.

Adding to this, he was “clipped” by a motorised scooter about eight weeks ago and now an infection had formed in his bones.

He had already had five surgeries, and was going for his sixth in the next week, she said.

“He has been in and out of St Vincents and Cabrini hospital,” she told the court.

“It’s a rather grim outlook — it may cause the loss of a leg if it’s not successful on this final surgery.”

Ms Falla granted the diversion, noting De Iulio’s health issues and change in personal circumstances since the offending.

If he is of good behaviour over the next six months, remains abstinent from illegal drugs and pays an $800 fine, he will avoid a conviction.