Ex-St Kilda player Robert Eddy accused of giving girlfriend ‘a big shiner’

Former midfielder Robert Eddy, who is also accused of netting $20,000 in a bizarre car scam, denies he punched his girlfriend.

Court documents allege Robert Eddy assaulted his partner with a “punch to her upper left eye area with a clenched fist” at her home in Clarinda

Former AFL player Robert Eddy has been accused of giving his girlfriend “a big shiner” and being involved in a car sales scam.

The Herald Sun can reveal the one-time St Kilda midfielder has been on a men’s ­behaviour change program. He is due to front Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

Court documents allege Eddy, 33, of South Yarra, ­assaulted his partner with a “punch to her upper left eye area with a clenched fist” at her home in Clarinda in the early hours of January 24 last year.

“The accused has then grabbed the victim and thrown her to the ground,” police allege.

He is also accused of claiming he would help a friend sell her car, only to do a runner with the $20,000 proceeds.

He allegedly placed the ad online and sold the Toyota HiLux, even providing a ­receipt to the buyer, on December 20, 2019.

Robert Eddy during his playing days with the Saints. Picture: Jackson Flindell .

When his friend inquired the next day via text if the car had sold, Eddy allegedly ­replied the buyer had “gone cold” but that another person was interested.

When she didn’t hear from him for weeks, she reported her car stolen to Victoria Police on January 15.

Two days later, Eddy allegedly contacted her telling her his house had been burgled and his phone and wallet, along with the cash for her ute, stolen. He claimed he had ­reported it to police, who say they have no record of this.

Eddy, who played 33 games for the Saints between 2007 and 2011, including the 2010 Grand Final and replay, is facing six charges over the two ­incidents, including recklessly causing injury, assault, theft and dishonestly obtaining property by deception.

Eddy played 33 games for the Saints between 2007 and 2011

He answered “no comment” when interviewed over the alleged car theft fraud. But when asked if he punched his partner in the head, he said: “That never happened.

“I don’t even lay hands on women, but if I’m defending myself from an attack I will do minimal with what I learnt from my training and knowledge,” he allegedly told investigators. He said he became frustrated when his partner wouldn’t let him leave.

“She thought I had her keys. I said ‘don’t push me’,” he said.

“I held her hand twisted and walked away. At that point she attacked me again and grabbed my throat. I didn’t touch her. I said to her ‘you can squeeze me as tight as you want, I’d rather you hurt me than me to hurt you’.”

The prosecution summary alleges his partner of four months suffered “pain and swelling” to her face as well as scratches and bruises to her body. When she called police, Eddy was allegedly waiting out the front, hands raised, when they arrived.

Originally published as Ex-St Kilda player Robert Eddy accused of giving girlfriend ‘a big shiner’