Ron De Iulio, 49, who played 104 matches for Carlton during the 1990s, was charged with possessing 4.67 grams of ice and $4350 in cash.

De Iulio, 49, was unable to face Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday because he was in hospital for a serious leg injury suffered earlier this year.

His lawyer Zoe Davis, told the court her client was able to dial in, but he did not speak during the hearing.

She told the court De Iulio suffered severe mental and physical setbacks since he was charged thanks to a stroke in early October.

Since then, he has been in and out of hospital and under the watchful eye of numerous doctors.

There is also a real possibility De Iulio could lose his leg due to a bone infection caused in an unrelated accident in February.

He is expected to undergo his sixth leg operation this week and if doctors are unable to remove the infection, amputation is a possibility.

Ms Davis argued her client was ripe for a diversion program because he is no longer the person he was.

"The number of issues since his charges have highlighted the preciousness of second chances," Ms Davis told the court.

"He has been mentally and physically affected, he is immobile, hospital bound and lives an extremely different life now."

Magistrate Rose Falla said it was unusual to pursue a diversion program when facing charges relating to such a large amount of drugs and cash, but was persuaded by prosecution support for it.

She sentenced De Iulio to a six-month diversion program with strict conditions.

Those conditions include making an $800 donation to the court fund, a six-month good behaviour bond and abstaining from any drugs not prescribed to him by doctors.

She said the charges would remain on file until October 11.

Australian Associated Press