Grant Kemp, 36, appeared in the Ballarat Magistrates Court on Monday charged with recklessly and intentionally causing injury and unlawful assault.

Police informant Senior Constable Carey Heap told the court police opposed bail for the man. He said at 2am on April 5, the man asked his father-in-law to drive him to the Ballarat Railway Station to catch the airport shuttle, after a night of drinking.

At 2.50am, the alleged victim who had just left Reid's Guest House fell to the ground, uninjured.

"In an entirely unprovoked act, the accused has walked up to the victim ... and with his right foot has stomped on the victim's head with great force," Senior Constable Heap said.

The incident was captured on CCTV footage, with the victim rendered unconscious immediately, police allege. The accused walked five metres away, then allegedly turned back to the victim, getting a running start and kicking him "to the head violently with a football style kick".

"It's one of the most serious unprovoked assaults I've witnessed in Ballarat for some time," Senior Constable Heap said.

The court heard the victim has been to hospital three times following the incident, with a scan showing bruising on the brain. Senior Constable Heap said he expected the alleged victim to have "protracted mental injuries" as a result of the incident.

Kemp went to the Melbourne Airport with the intention of buying a ticket to Townsville to find work. He admitted himself to the Ballarat Psychiatric Services Unit voluntarily on April 7, and was arrested on April 12.

In an interview, Kemp told police he has no recollection of the assault, but admitted the man on CCTV looked like him. The accused man had shaved his beard and disposed of distinctive clothing worn on the tape since the incident.

In text messages between Kemp and his partner on April 5 obtained by police, the accused man said he "smashed this goose last night bam" and this "c**ts teeth literary [sic] coming out of his head that's why I missed my bus was full of witnesses".

Magistrate Barry Schultz told the court the alleged incident was a "serious assault, and could have been fatal in my experience".

He said as the man did not have evidence of his schizophrenia and how treatment has reduced the risk to the public, he could not grant bail at this time.

"I perceive there is, at this stage, and unacceptable risk of endangering public safety," Magistrate Schultz said.

Kemp will return to court in July.