Birdwood footballer Antonio Loiacono’s mother Wendy Smith steps up plans for legal action against SANFL

The mother of a young Adelaide Hills footballer, who died after an on-field collision, has ramped up her plans to take legal action against the SANFL.

The mother of a young Adelaide Hills footballer who died after an on-field collision has requested a complete history of all concussions reported to the SANFL, amid claims the league breached its own policy in the lead-up to her son’s death.

Birdwood footballer Antonio Loiacono, 20, died after a collision during a Hills Football League match against Gumeracha on April 22, sparking concerns from his family that previous concussions contributed to his death.

Ms Smith, who has engaged top Adelaide lawyer Greg Griffin to pursue legal action against the SANFL, has requested the league provide “all documents and reports” it holds in relation to its community football concussion policy which was in place when her son died.

“It will be interesting to see if the amount of injured players who had head knocks reconciles with the amount documented,” Ms Smith said.

“And what do they do with that information once they have it to improve player safety?”

Antonio Loiacono's mother Wendy Smith has requested a complete history of all concussions reported to the SANFL. Picture: Ben Clark

Mr Griffin on Saturday wrote to SANFL chief executive Darren Chandler, on behalf of Ms Smith, as part of his investigation into the league’s handling of concussions before Mr Loiacono’s death.

He has requested access to the documents, which include medical certificates clearing each concussed player to return to play.

At the time of Mr Loiacono’s death, the SANFL’s concussion policy stated any player who suffered a concussion “will not be permitted to play until the league receives a medical certificate clearing him to play”.

Top Adelaide lawyer Greg Griffin has written to the SANFL on behalf of Ms Smith requesting documents related to the league’s community football concussion policy. Picture: Ben Clark

“They have all these rules and regulations and they didn’t honour them,” Ms Smith previously said.

Mr Griffin’s letter asks for documents related to a concussion Mr Loiacono suffered while playing for Waikerie, in the Riverland Football League, in 2022, and a concussion suffered while playing in a trial match for Birdwood in the weeks before his death.

Ms Smith said no medical assessment was done after either concussion.

“Inexplicably, after having been removed from the field of play in the first quarter due to the concussion, he was allowed to return to the field of play in the third and fourth quarters of that same game,” Mr Griffin wrote of the Waikerie concussion.

Antonio Loiacono died after an on-field collision during a Hills Football League match in April. Picture: Supplied

“After the game, Antonio suffered headaches and vomiting, requiring him to return to Adelaide to be cared for.”

In the letter, Mr Griffin said Ms Smith ran on to the field after the collision in April to help her son who was lying on the ground.

Mr Loiacono later died at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

“The witnessing by Ms Smith of the injuries sustained by Antonio and the delays in attempting sustainable and appropriate resuscitation of him has understandably caused her to suffer ongoing issues relatable entirely to the incident,” Mr Griffin wrote.

The SANFL declined to comment.