Daniel Dinsdale, 22, of Wildwood, who lived in Greenvale at the time of the incident, and Corey Godino, 21, of Meadow Heights, pleaded guilty in the County Court on Friday to one count of recklessly causing serious injury. They are due to be sentenced on November 4.

Crown prosecutor Peter Triandos told the court Dinsdale and Godino attended the nightclub on Sunday, July 20, and became involved in an altercation with the then 20-year-old victim, Matthew Carland, of Keilor Park.

The court heard the co-accused became angry after Mr Carland placed a hand on the shoulder and leg of a female workmate.

An altercation ensued before Dinsdale and Godino were ejected from the premises by security.

The court heard Mr Carland was later heading south along Ascot Vale Road when he was attacked by the men.

Mr Triandos said Godino punched the victim repeatedly to the face until he fell while Dinsdale kicked him in the stomach. He said both men kicked the victim in the head while he was lying on the ground - a claim denied by both accused.

The court heard Mr Carland was dragged off the footpath by ambulance officers and taken to The Alfred hospital with serious head injuries and fractures to the body.

He spent three days in hospital and has since made a full recovery.

Dinsdale and Godino were arrested at their homes during the following week. In statements made, both men admitted to being highly intoxicated at the time and had begun drinking earlier in the night.

They claimed to have little recollection of events because they had "blacked out" and had too much to drink.

The court heard evidence from Dinsdale's father, Ronald, a former motocross rider, who claimed an injury sustained by his son, an aspiring rider, when he was 17, was partly responsible for his behaviour.

"He never did have any drinks when he was younger and obviously when he walked away from the sport he had a few," Mr Dinsdale said.