Glenelg’s Brady Searle hit for six as severity of Norwood player’s injury is revealed

Glenelg midfielder Brady Searle has copped a six-match suspension – the SANFL’s biggest in more than a decade – after causing a serious neck injury to a Redleg. See the sickening bump.

Brady Searle celebrates after scoring a goal during an SANFL game in August, 2022. Picture: The Advertiser/ Morgan Sette

Glenelg footballer Brady Searle has failed in his bid to have a hefty six-match SANFL suspension reduced in an incident that has left his Norwood opponent with a fractured neck.

Searle, 21, fronted the SANFL Appeals Board on Thursday night after being slapped with the biggest league suspension in more than a decade.

He tried to have the “severe’’ classification of his forceful front-on contact charge against Redlegs midfielder Jack Saunders at Glenelg Oval last Sunday downgraded.

But his appeal was quickly thrown out by SANFL Appeals Commissioner, Justice Michael David, at Adelaide Oval.

Searle copped a six-match ban for the sickening incident that left Saunders with a fractured neck and facing an indefinite stint on the sidelines.

A Glenelg footballer is set to appeal a six-week SANFL ban for a sickening bump on a Norwood player, which has left him in hospital with a fractured neck. #9Newspic.twitter.com/yw0IZy2fVM

— 9News Adelaide (@9NewsAdel) May 4, 2023

The incident, which saw Saunders taken to hospital and later be diagnosed with a fracture to his C1 vertebrae, was deemed as careless, high contact and severe impact.

Norwood football manager Rick Shrowder said Saunders, who was hurt while putting his head over the ball, remains in hospital but was expected to make a full recovery.

Norwood midfielder Jack Saunders remains in hospital with a fractured neck. Picture: Supplied

“We are all thinking of Jack and his family during this time,’’ Shrowder said.

“Jack’s wellbeing is the club’s number one priority but we are confident that he will be able to recover. We hope to see him on the field again in 2023.’’

Saunders, 21, rejoined the Redlegs this season after spending two years with AFL club Hawthorn.

A product of Norwood’s under-age development program, he played one AFL game for the Hawks – against the Western Bulldogs in round 23 last year – before being delisted and returning to The Parade.

He has played all four league games for Norwood this season.

Searle’s suspension is the heaviest handed out by the SANFL since moving to the match review panel system in 2013.

The previous biggest penalties were five-game bans given to North Adelaide’s Michael Clinch and Port Adelaide’s Henry Slattery in 2014.

Clinch was suspended for forceful front-on contact and Slattery for rough conduct and a high bump.

The 187cm Searle has played 19 league games and kicked nine goals for the Tigers since making his debut in 2021.