A teenager has been put in an induced coma after an out-of-control Under-17s footy match descended into an all-out brawl.
Several red and yellow cards were issued during the violent first half of the grand final match between Angle Vale and Two Wells at Adelaide’s Hamley Bridge Oval on Sunday, which at one point saw a fight break out between players.
Shortly before half-time, Angle Vale player Henry Nau, 17, was seen losing consciousness as he tried to come off the field.
Some spectators suggested Henry may have been king-hit, but APFL president Michael Vigor has refuted that claim.
The game was paused for nearly an hour while ambulance crews rushed to the scene and transported Henry to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, where he remains in a stable condition.
Henry reportedly suffered another head injury earlier in the match.
Family members said his CAT scans showed positive signs of recovery.
However, the news is of little comfort to Henry’s startled teammates, who watched on as their friend was surrounded by tarps and frightened staff after collapsing.
‘(He) came off and he was a bit dazed and then I’m not sure … then he just collapsed afterwards,’ teammate Jack Pessano said.
‘It’s very scary. Knowing that could happen to one of my great mates who I play footy with, it’s very scary.’