Aaron Shattock’s former teammates send wishes for a ‘speedy recovery’ following excavator accident

The former Woodville-West Torrens and Port Adelaide player remains in a critical condition in a Gold Coast hospital following an excavator accident on Sunday.

Former AFL premiership player Aaron Shattock remains in a critical condition after he was crushed by an excavator on Sunday. Picture: Supplied

Friends and former teammates of critically injured former Port Adelaide and Brisbane player Aaron Shattock are rallying behind their friend as he remains in an induced coma in a Gold Coast Hospital.

Carlton coach Michael Voss, who played with Shattock at the Lions, said he was devastated by the pre-Christmas tragedy, describing his former teammate as “a ripping good fella”.

Shattock, who also played in the SANFL with Woodville-West Torrens, was involved in a freak accident at his Worongary home on Sunday that saw an excavator roll and pin him underneath.

The 44-year-old was driving the digger on the Gold Coast on Sunday. Picture: 7News

It is understood the 44-year-old was driving the machinery at the time it rolled.

Former Woodville-West Torrens and Crows star Andrew Payze said the thoughts of the entire Woodville-West Torrens community were with Shattock and his family.

“We’re hoping for a swift, speedy, and successful recovery,” Payze told The Advertiser.

Former Woodville-West Torrens captain and West Adelaide coach Gavin Colville said

he had a “ high footy IQ”.

“He was one of those guys could make footy look pretty simple”, Mr Colville said. “[He] always made the right decision.”

“Wasn’t a huge possession winner, but didn’t need to be, just did most things correct.”

Off the field, Colville said Shattock maintained a “good balance” in life, describing him as “always smiling”, and “up for a bit of fun”.

Friends and former teammates have rallied around Shattock hoping for a speedy recovery. Picture: Supplied

“He’s really competitive with his footy, but you wouldn’t pick it if you just saw him off the field.”

Shattock was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital on Sunday after emergency services were called to the scene around 12:50pm. The ‘jaws of life’ were used to free Shattock from the excavator.

He remains in intensive care in an induced coma surrounded by his wife and three children.

Shattock played school football for Sacred Heart College and Woodville-West Torrens in the SANFL – before being drafted to the Brisbane Lions in 1998.

He played 57 games for the club between 2000-2004, including the 2002 grand final, before returning to Adelaide for 11 games with Port Adelaide in 2005 and 2006.

Following his AFL retirement in 2006, Shattock returned to Queensland, where for over a decade he served as player, captain, assistant and senior coach for the Labrador Tigers in the QAFL.

An investigation into the accident is ongoing.