Thieves Steal $1 Million Worth of Footage From Eric Bana and AFL Star’s Documentary

In a brazen theft that has shocked Melbourne’s film community, criminals have stolen irreplaceable footage for an upcoming documentary produced by Hollywood actor Eric Bana and former Australian Football League (AFL) player Koby Stevens. The thieves smashed the window of Stevens’ car in St Kilda early this morning, making off with expensive camera equipment and more critically a hard drive containing years of sensitive interviews. The stolen material, valued at approximately $1 million, represents five years of work on “Thrive,” a groundbreaking film about sports-related head injuries. Stevens has made an emotional plea for the return of the hard drive, emphasizing that the stolen content contains deeply personal stories from athletes and medical professionals.

The documentary, which was nearing post-production, features candid accounts from Stevens himself about how concussion injuries ended his AFL career, along with testimonies from other athletes recovering from similar trauma. “There’s stuff on there about stories no-one’s ever seen,” Stevens told reporters, visibly distressed. The former St Kilda player described how head injuries once left him bedridden, making the stolen footage which documents his recovery and others’ healing journeys particularly poignant. Despite the presence of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in the area, police suspect the theft may have gone unnoticed, leaving few leads.

Stevens stressed that the monetary value of the stolen camera gear pales in comparison to the loss of the hard drive’s contents. “You’d look at the hard drive and probably wouldn’t know what’s on it,” he said, appealing directly to the thieves or anyone who might find it. “Just drop the hard drive off. I don’t even care about the equipment.” The footage includes interviews with doctors and athletes who shared vulnerable, previously untold stories, now at risk of being lost or misused. Authorities are urging pawn shops, secondhand dealers, and the public to be vigilant for the distinctive black-and-silver hard drive.

The theft has raised broader concerns about crime in Melbourne, particularly brazen property offenses that continue to plague the city. With “Thrive” slated for completion later this year, the filmmakers face a race against time to recover or recreate the lost material. Stevens remains hopeful, noting that the documentary’s message about resilience in the face of adversity feels ironically relevant. For now, the production team and local police are relying on community assistance to track down the stolen footage, a reminder that some losses transcend monetary value. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers immediately.