Footballer in end-of-life care after head clash in suburban game

Suburban football player Nathan Fitzgerald is receiving end-of-life care a day after suffering a head injury during an Aussie Rules game in Melbourne's north.

The 27-year-old clashed heads with a teammate from the Epping Football Netball Club during a tackle in a reserves match against Lalor in the Northern Football League.

Epping Football Netball Club president Luke De Vincentis said Nathan appeared to knock his head multiple times.

"[There were] two to three significant knocks in the one motion," he said.

"The extent of what happened is completely rare and was really foreign territory for everyone to navigate."

Both clubs' medical teams rushed to the player's aid, with the head medic doing CPR until paramedics arrived at Lalor Reserve at about 1pm on Saturday.

Nathan was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.

In a social media post, the Epping Football Netball Club said it was "devastated" to share that Nathan's condition had deteriorated overnight.

"[He] is now receiving end-of-life care," the post read.

"The entire Fitzgerald family is in our thoughts during this horrible situation, and we ask that you respect their privacy."

Epping's social media pages have been inundated with messages of support, including from other clubs in suburban leagues.

His teammates arrived at the Epping Football Netball Club this afternoon, where they supported each other.

Nathan had been a part of the Epping club for several years and was loved by all.

"He's a really softly spoken, gentle young man who loves the club and loves his teammates," Mr De Vincentis said.

"And it's a mutual feeling, so that makes it all the more difficult to deal with.

"The club, both Epping and Lalor, really wrapped their arms around each other at the game and the support by both clubs was really heartwarming."

Mr De Vincentis said it appeared that Nathan's head hit part of the cricket pitch, which was covered by grass on the football field, when he fell after the clash.

Many community fields in Australia are used by multiple sporting codes.

"We don't have the luxury of having dedicated cricket ovals, and AFL ovals or soccer pitches, so we have to make use with the facilities we have," Mr De Vincentis said.

"Cricket pitches in the middle of an oval, particularly where Aussie Rules is played, do pose a significant risk."

He said that while councils did their best to mitigate that risk, it was always there.

"Hopefully it's something that can be explored, and there can be a better outcome in terms of how it's facilitated moving forward."

Severe injuries 'uncommon'

Neuroscientist Alan Pearce said while these types of injuries were uncommon, they could occur at all levels of sport.

"It's not just a professional athlete issue," Dr Pearce, from Swinburne University, said.

"These are traumatic brain injuries and need the attention that they deserve."

He said that while they were accidental and no one should be blamed, people needed to be aware and ready for them at every game.

"The one thing I need people to take away is that if in doubt, sit it out," he said.

"Don't continue on thinking that you'll be OK."

Dr Pearce said he was pleased that the club took Nathan's injury seriously and praised the quick actions of first responders.

Ambulance Victoria chief executive officer Jordan Emery also praised those who performed first aid on the player.

"It is a frightening task; it is a scary situation to find someone you know or love experiencing a medical emergency," Mr Emery said.

He said contact sport always carried a risk of injury but that that should be viewed in context.

"When we reflect on the many numbers of individuals who play different contact sports across Australia, that risk profile is relatively low," he said.

"But, of course, there are circumstances where very significant injuries can occur."

Concussion workshops

Dr Pearce said everyone involved in contact sports should attend training sessions to learn about brain injuries.

"The AFL run concussion workshops on a yearly basis, and there's also organisations … that run concussion-aware courses," he said.

"I would recommend that everyone … educate themselves on a yearly basis on brain injuries as much as they would for first aid."

Mr De Vincentis said local clubs all participated in relevant training, ensuring first responders were prepared when an incident did occur.

"All clubs run first-aid and CPR sessions and offer that to all of their medical volunteers," he said.

"Concussion is now a major component of those training sessions."