Gumeracha Football Club takes to the field after tragic death of Antonio Loiacono

Players from Gumeracha Football Club have paid their respect to Birdwood footballer Antonio Loiacono, who died after an on-field collision with their side in the season-opening clash.

With armbands donned in honour of a young footballer whose life was cut short in the blink of an eye, Gumeracha and Kersbrook players stood arm-in-arm.

They were ready for the contest, but aware of just how precious life is after the tragic death of Birdwood footballer Antonio Loiacono.

Kersbrook players’ arms were wrapped in Birdwood’s red and white, Gumeracha’s in double black – one for Mr Loiacono and one for the Anzacs the two clubs met to commemorate in belated Anzac Day match yesterday.

As both clubs’ A grade and B grade players stood with bowed heads, the usual sounds of country football fell away, leaving behind only the chilling Last Post followed by a deafening silence.

Kersbrook v Gumeracha A line of remembrance for Antonio Loiacono Image/Russell Millard Photography

“While today was … about commemorating our Anzacs, we must first acknowledge the tragic passing of Antonio Loiacono,” Kersbrook Football Club president Matt Coad said.

For half taking the field, the horror of last weekend’s on-field tragedy which claimed Mr Loiacono’s life was still fresh in their minds.

The young footballer, 20, died after an on-field collision in Birdwood’s season-opening clash against Gumeracha on April 22.

Mr Loiacono was knocked unconscious late in the game after a contest and went into cardiac arrest on the field.

He was treated by paramedics before being flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital but was later declared brain dead.

Birdwood footballer Antonio Loiacono died after an on-field collision during an Adelaide Hills Football League match. Picture: Supplied

A week later, Gumeracha Football Club president Tony Hannaford said his players were still coming to terms with the tragedy they witnessed.

“It’s been horrible,” he said.

“It was a horrendous thing.

“No club wants to see that sort of thing happen.”

Standing just metres from a Gumeracha player who has given up football after fracturing several vertebrae just weeks ago, Mr Hannaford said players had been grieving in their own ways.

He said the collision involving Mr Loiacono last weekend was “the sort of tackle that happens 100 times in a game of footy. It was the sort of thing that could have happened anywhere in any sport.”

Gumeracha coach Mark Weaver speaks to his players at three quarter time of Saturday’s A Grade match against Kersbrook. Picture: Riley Walter

On Thursday night, Birdwood players returned to the track to train, despite having a bye on Saturday.

“We wanted to have training tonight to see who came, who wanted to train,” Birdwood Football Netball Club president Brendan Loechel said on Thursday.

He said the club’s grief was a “moving beast”.

“He was just a natural leader,” Mr Loechel said of Mr Loiacono, who had joined Birdwood for the 2023 season.

“He just loved life. He made life better for all of those he met.

“People gravitated towards him. He just naturally cared about everyone he met.

“He made our club better instantly.”

Kersbrook v Gumeracha A line of remembrance for Antonio Loiacono Image/Russell Millard Photography

On Wednesday, a grief counselling session organised by the SANFL was held at the football club to allow players and club officials to share memories of Mr Loiacono.

“We just met as a group and discussed where we’re at … and learn more about what the process is that we’re going through,” Mr Loechel said.

“There’s no manual for it. We’re just going along as best we can.

“Every day’s different and we are literally taking every day as it comes because every day presents something that you couldn’t have thought of.”

Several of Mr Loiacono’s organs were donated.

“One of our players said ‘whoever gets Toni’s heart is blessed’,” Mr Loechel said.

After Mr Loiacono’s death, his younger brother Jack Loiacono raised concerns about previous concussions his sibling had suffered playing footy.

“There must have been an underlying issue,” Jack, 19, said.

He called for more to be done to manage players with a history of concussion or serious head knocks.

“They need to nip it in the bud,” he said.

Jack’s concerns sparked calls for a “concussion passport”, a register which would help track players’ history of concussion when they changed leagues or clubs.

The passport, advocated for by veteran AFL player agent Peter Jess for more than a decade, has drawn support from Adelaide Footy League chief executive John Kernahan and Australian Medical Associaton SA branch president Michelle Atchison.

At Gumeracha Football Club, NeuroFlex technology has been used for the past two years to measure the impact of each concussion a player suffers.

Every player’s brain is scanned once a year, whether they have suffered concussion or not.

Mr Hannaford said the challenge now was how to make football safer across all levels.

“How can we make it a safer environment?,” he asked.

“We’ve all got to learn how to do a better job there and how to protect the guys playing.”

When the siren sounded yesterday, Gumeracha ran out 74 to 18 winners, but gained more than points on the ladder.

“It wouldn’t have mattered if they lost,” Mr Hannaford said.

“Every day is another step.”