Noble Park young gun Joel Cusack recovering from kidney blow

First-year Bull Joel Cusack has undergone surgery after a nasty blow to his kidney in Noble Park’s EFL Premier Division defeat against South Croydon. SEE THE INCIDENT HERE.

Noble Park forward Joel Cusack is recovering in hospital after a nasty blow to his kidney in Saturday’s EFL Premier Division clash against South Croydon.

Cusack, 21, appeared to cop some friendly fire from teammate Bailey Lambert in a marking contest at the 19-minute mark of the first quarter.

The Richmond VFL-listed player underwent surgery earlier this week and is recovering at the Alfred Hospital.

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“It was touch and go there for a bit with his kidney,” Noble Park coach Mick Fogarty said.

“It’s just a day to day thing now. He’s had an operation and it got quite serious.

“To his credit, he coped it in the first quarter and he kept playing, which was unbelievable courage that he showed because he ended up going to hospital in the last quarter.

Joel Cusack in action during the NAB Young Guns match.

“He just couldn’t cope anymore and to cut a long story short, he’s had a really bad knock to his kidney.

“He’s just in hospital at the moment doing it pretty tough actually. They’re just monitoring him and hoping it’s going to be OK.”

Fogarty said Cusack was unaware of the seriousness of the injury.

“Unfortunately, he’s just coped a bad one, which every game most players have coped hits to the body and they’re OK,” he said.

“Unfortunately this one got him a beauty. He’s in a good place … hopefully he’s OK.”

Cusack was listed in Noble Park’s best players in its 12.11 (83) to 8.9 (57) defeat at Pat Wright Senior Oval.

He has made one state league appearance for Richmond this year and is in his first season at the Bulls.

Fogarty said the club was hoping the young key-position player would make a full recovery.

“He lost a bit of blood and then he had to get a fair bit of blood put back in,” he said.

“That’s pretty much the extent of it.

“To be fair to Joel and his parents, it’s probably not something I’d really want to elaborate on more. But it was pretty serious.

“I don’t know the finer details of where it’s sitting at the moment, other than he’s in a good place and he’s getting the right treatment.”