The Wodonga resident, 75, was watching football in his Lawrence Street unit with another man on Saturday afternoon.

A woman is alleged to have snuck into the home and struck him several times over the head and arms about 4.20pm before fleeing.

Detective Senior Constable Andrew Leonard said the victim had “substantial” injuries.

“These are the sort of offences that really anger police,” he said.

“It’s an unprovoked and brutal assault on a 75-year-old male in his own house, while watching football.

“At this point in time, he’s done nothing to deserve this assault.

“He was effectively defenceless.”

Police attended the units, near the corner of William Street, after the incident.

“The offender has decamped the scene and police attended and applied first aid,” Detective Senior Constable Leonard said said.

“He was conveyed to Wodonga hospital for treatment.

“As a result of that incident, a Wodonga woman was arrested at her home in London Road about 8am on (Sunday) morning.”

The pair are known to each other, but the cause of the attack is unclear.

“At this point in time, it’s a totally unprovoked assault on an elderly male inside his own unit,” Detective Senior Constable Leonard said.

“He was not in a position to defend himself – he was hit from behind.”

Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said paramedics had been called to the assault about 4.22pm with the victim taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

The 39-year-old woman was charged with aggravated burglary and intentionally causing serious injury.

She faced an out-of-sessions court hearing at the Wodonga police station on Sunday, and was remanded to court on Tuesday. 

Anyone with information is urged to call police on (02) 6049 2600 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.