Eli Templeton moves on from Port Melbourne

One of the VFL’s biggest stars has announced he is walking away from the state league after a sickening local footy injury last year.

Eli Templeton will not play VFL footy in season 2023.

Port Melbourne has announced the 27-year-old Tasmanian had decided to step away from state league commitments after a horror injury last season.

The former St Kilda forward suffered a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain after hitting his heads on rocks following a bump from Zac Clarke which sent him over the fence during an Eastern league clash between Balwyn and Doncaster East in August.

Former AFL big man Clarke was handed a two-game ban over the incident.

Templeton has been with the Borough since departing St Kilda going onto win two club best-and-fairest, earn four VFL Team of the Year nominations and was a premiership player in 2017.

“On behalf of all players, coaches staff and members we thank Eli for his contribution to not only the club, but the VFL competition as a whole,” Port Melbourne football manager Glenn Balmforth said.

“What ‘Temps’ has managed to achieve and contribute during his time at the Borough has been nothing short of exceptional and he has been one of the elite midfielders in the VFL over a long period of time.”