‘They need to nip it in the bud’: Brother’s concussion call after Antonio Loiacono’s tragic footy death

The heartbroken brother of a young country footballer declared brain dead after a horrific on-field collision has called for more to be done to manage players with a history of concussion.

Birdwood footballer Antonio Loiacono, pictured with brother Jack, died after an on field collision at Gumeracha Oval. Picture: Supplied

The brother of a young footballer who was declared brain-dead after an on-field collision has called for better concussion management after seeing his brother suffer several head knocks during his playing career.

Antonio Loiacono, 20, was flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital on Saturday after suffering critical injuries during the Birdwood Football Club’s season-opening Hills Football League match against Gumeracha.

Mr Loiacono was knocked unconscious when he was tackled during the final quarter of the game and went into cardiac arrest.

Mr Loiacono was treated at the scene before speciality paramedics were called to the Gumeracha Oval and he was flown to Royal Adelaide Hospital just before 8pm Saturday.

It is unclear exactly what sent Mr Loiacono into cardiac arrest, but his younger brother Jack Loiacono raised concerns about previous concussions his brother suffered playing football.

Antonio Loiacono died on Sunday after an on-field collision during a Hills Football League game on Saturday. Picture: Instagram

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

He has called for more to be done by football clubs to manage players with a history of concussion.

“They need to nip it in the bud.”

Birdwood Football Club and Waikerie Football Club, which Mr Loiacono played for in 2022, have been contacted for comment about whether or not they were aware of Mr Loiacono’s previous concussions.

Both the Hills Football League and the Riverland Football League are governed by the SANFL’s community football concussion management guidelines, which were developed by the AFL. There is no suggestion either club did not comply with the guidelines.

Jack Loiacono says more needs to be done to manage concussion after his brother Antonio died after an on-field collision at Gumeracha Oval on Saturday. Picture: Supplied

Jack said his brother had suffered two “really bad” concussions and one “mild” concussion playing football.

“He’s had a few concussions in the past,” Jack said.

“Two or three years back he stopped playing footy because of his last head knock and our parents wouldn’t let him (play) but once he was old enough he wanted to make his own decisions and went back to it.

Jack Loiacono, pictured with brother believes his brother Antonio had “underlying” health issues as a result of concussions suffered playing football. Picture: Supplied

“He made one of his own decisions and it backlashed.

“All the doctors that were there that looked after him advised him definitely not to get back in to it.

“Everyone kind of tried to stop him.”

Jack said his brother had never been formally diagnosed with any condition as a result of his head knocks but believed they had contributed to his death.

“The knock he had actually was so intense it gave him cardiac arrest straight away before he hit the ground,” Jack said.

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

It is unclear exactly what caused Mr Loiacono to go into cardiac arrest.

Mr Loiacono’s death will now help save the lives of two others, with some of his organs being donated.

“They’re perfect matches,” Jack said.

The organ transplants were expected to take place early Tuesday morning.

“It’s some good news,” Jack said.

“It’s made us all very happy.”