Victorian grandfather's life support to be switched off after Christmas night bashing

The step-daughter of Victorian man left braindead in a Christmas night attack says he was targeted after a firework was set off.

Anthony Clark was bashed outside his Esther Crescent home in Mooroolbark just before 11pm on Wednesday.

His heartbroken stepdaughter, Jess Clark, said the family was distraught after the attack by up to 15 people.

The family plans to switch off his life support today, having held off until after his granddaughter's third birthday yesterday.

"My daughter's lost her everything now. She just wants her poppy to come home and he's never going to come home," Ms Clark said.

Police have previously said up to eight people may have been involved in the fight. An 18-year-old man from Mooroolbark was arrested at the scene but released.

Ms Clark said 15 "guys rocked up" and her stepfather "didn't really have a chance".

"They were yelling because a firework went off and their dog was barking … so now my dad's dead because their dog was barking," she said.

"They knocked my mum out here on the driveway straight away.

"They had bats, they smashed my car, and then they just threw my mum around like a rag doll."

Neighbour Anthony Tellentyre told 9News he heard fireworks going off before all hell broke loose.

"Next minute someone yells out, 'is he breathing, has he got a pulse?'," Mr Tellentyre said.

The investigation into the attack is ongoing.