Antonio Loiacono’s mother Wendy Smith breaks her silence on the on-field collision that resulted in his death

The mother of a footballer who died in an on-field collision has spoken for the first time about the events that led up to her son’s death.

The mother of a young footballer who died after an on-field collision says the match was “aggressive” and “thuggery” in the lead up to the fatal accident.

Antonio Loiacono, 20, suffered critical injuries during Birdwood Football Club’s season-opening Hills Football League match against Gumeracha in April.

Speaking at a concussion summit in Melbourne on Friday, his mother Wendy Smith recounted the events of the day that resulted in her son’s tragic death for the first time.

She said she was concerned about the nature of the game before the incident that killed her son.

“It was a really aggressive game that day. I’m not one of those embarrassing parents that stand up on the sidelines and yells out, but this particular day, I did,” she said.

“I found the game very thuggery. It was full of injuries, sling tackles and illegal play.”

However, she said the fatal collision was a “normal football play”.

“It just looked like a bunch of players going in for the ball,” she said.

“His head appears to have hit the guy’s hip.”

Gumeracha president Tony Hannaford said there was nothing out of the ordinary in the game.

“I can’t remember any aggression,” Mr Hannaford said.

“Some games you remember being physical but I think it was quite a calm game.

“I can’t remember anything out of the ordinary at all.”

In another stunning revelation, Ms Smith said her son had suffered two concussions in his previous three games.

Photo from Birdwood Football Club player Antonio Loiacono GoFundMe page. Picture: GoFundMe

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

“I know he had a concussion three weeks prior in the trial game and I don’t think that was reported because I didn’t know about it being reported,” she said.

“Last year in his last game leading up to the finals … he got concussed in the first quarter.”

Ms Smith said despite the club becoming aware of the injury and taking him off in the second quarter, Mr Loiacono played out the rest of the game.

“From what I know, he just wanted to come home and go to bed,” she said.

“He used to have a series of really bad headaches and he used to explain it in the fact that he just felt his head would explode some days.”

Mr Loiacono played for Waikerie in the Riverland Football League (RFL) last season.

The RFL and SANFL declined to comment.

Waikerie Football Club and Birdwood Football Club have been contacted for comment.

Ms Smith conceded clubs at a grassroots level were trying to improve but said there needed to be more transparency around the reporting of concussion.

Tributes for Birdwood football player Antonio Loiacono 20, who died in hospital after suffering critical injuries during a match between Birdwood Football Club and Gumeracha. The cross with flowers and a candle was placed inside the centre square on Gumeracha Oval. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

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

“I’d like to see the documentation of the reports that were given to the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) because I don’t recall any reporting being done,” she said.

When Ms Smith’s other son, Jack, was badly concussed in 2016, it was reported by his club to the SANFL.

However, when she called the state’s top league for details, she said she was met with “lip service”.

“When I asked to see the documentation, no one could tell me anything. They just said we’ve complied,” she said.

“But where’s the evidence?”

Concussion reform advocate Peter Jess said it was one of the most compelling reasons why the nation needed a concussion passport.

“It beggars belief that we have to have somebody die on the pitch to see that is a necessary process that we should have,” he said.

The Birdwood Football Club this week forfeited its two senior fixtures against Gumeracha as players continue to come to terms with Mr Loiacono’s tragic death.

Originally published as Antonio Loiacono’s mother Wendy Smith breaks her silence on the on-field collision that resulted in his death