EDFL and North Gippsland country footy game called off

The opening weekend of the local footy season was overshadowed by injuries which forced one game to be called off in Melbourne’s northwest and another in Gippsland.

A local footy game in Melbourne’s northwest was abandoned on Saturday night after a player was knocked out and required medical attention.

The round 1 Essendon District Football League clash between Tullamarine and Moonee Valley at Leo Dineen Reserve was called off during the third quarter as a result of the incident.

Moonee Valley president Michael Milne told this masthead as the game was delayed for over 30 minutes it was not restarted.

It’s understood the player was not moved by his respective club’s trainers who called for an ambulance.

“A man in his 20s was treated for upper body injuries and was taken in a stable condition to St Vincent’s Hospital,” an Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said.

Moonee Valley was leading 7.7 (49) to 7.6 (48) when play was stopped.

The EDFL’s by laws for 2025 state “in the event of a match being abandoned after commencement for whatever reason, the points shall be allocated as the board sees fit”.

Other competitions choose to award the points to the side in front of the contest if an abandoned game is post halftime.

A North Gippsland Football Netball League game between Gormandale and Sale City was also abandoned on Saturday, during the second quarter.

In a social media post on Sunday morning, on the club’s Facebook page, Gormandale’s Nick Millington said he was in good spirits.

“I’ve been all cleared from hospital no serious complications. Bit stiff and sore but keeping positive. I’ll be out coming week and luckily we have bye and Easter so extra recovery,” he said.