Former AFL Bomber Jason Winderlich still in hospital after serious neck surgery following Mid Gippsland league match
Former Bomber Jason Winderlich is recovering from serious neck surgery a week after being rushed to hospital following an incident playing for Thorpdale.
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Former Essendon speedster Jason Winderlich remains in the Alfred Hospital recovering from neck surgery after being injured playing local football for his junior club, Thorpdale, last Saturday.
Winderlich underwent the operation a few hours after being flown from Gippsland to Melbourne.
The 39-year-old took a knock to the head after collecting the ball in the second quarter of the Mid Gippsland match against Toora.
Thorpy co-president Keith Pickering said Winderlich was in “good spirits’’.
“After his surgery, the doctors were very positive about the outcome,’’ he said. “It will be a bit of a slow process, obviously.’’
Winderlich is co-coach of Thorpdale, sharing duties with his childhood friend Ray Pickering, who has visited him at the Alfred and given the club updates on his condition.
Thorpdale co-president Jason Carpentiri has also been at the hospital.
Keith Pickering said his club had been overwhelmed by messages of support for Winderlich.
“My phone has been running hot,’’ he said.
The Mid-Gippsland league this week investigated the collision and ordered a Toora player to appear before the tribunal next Monday night.
He has been reported for making high, intentional and severe contact with Winderlich, who received a free kick from the non-officiating umpire.
Winderlich was unable to take it, stayed on the ground in severe pain. The match was eventually abandoned.
Winderlich played in under-age teams for Thorpdale and made his senior debut for the club when he was 15.
Essendon drafted him from Gippsland Power in 2002.
In a career punctuated by injury, he played 129 AFL matches between 2003-15.
Wanting to put back into the club that gave him his grounding in football, Winderlich returned to Thorpdale as co-coach last year, lifting it to the preliminary final.
The Mid Gippsland league has been contacted.
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Originally published as Former AFL Bomber Jason Winderlich still in hospital after serious neck surgery following Mid Gippsland league match
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