Quick Kicks: The weird and wonderful world of local footy injuries

One local footballer’s love life caught up with him in round 1 while a star ex-AFL recruit was injured on his way to the game. Plus, another ex-Eastern league gun on MAFS. It’s all in Quick Kicks.

Generic image of intimate couple.

Here at Quick Kicks we look at the lighter side of local footy.

Whether it be a funny exchange, a good stat or an action that’s laughed about after the game — it’s all here.

PLEASURE AND PAIN

There have been plenty of unusual injuries to sideline football players over the years.

Well, here’s a beauty to get the ball rolling in 2025.

A star missed Saturday’s opening game due to a muscle strain sustained while, um, ah, partaking in some intimate activities in the bedroom.

BEWARE THE DANGERS OF FLY IN, FLY OUT

Lachie Hunter was set to debut for Spotswood in the WFNL on Saturday, that’s until he got on the flight to Melbourne. Based in Sydney, Hunter “tweaked his back” on the plane and was a late withdrawal. It meant we didn’t get the dream match up against Newport, who Bachar Houli debuted for in round 1.

COULD CUPID’S ARROW STRIKE TWICE? 

A second former Eastern league star popped up on hit Nine reality television show Married At First Sight recently in the most bizarre of circumstances.

Former Vermont and SANFL Woodville-West Torrens defender Rory Lehmann made a surprise one-off appearance in a recent episode, having just missed the cut for this season of the show. Lehmann, along with other auditionees, were invited to partake in a date with the bride or groom they would have been matched with had they made the show’s final cut.

The husbands and wives could accept or decline the date, with curiosity getting the better of a few participants.

Lehmann, Vermont’s 2019 Team of the Year premiership full back, went on a date with arguably the show’s most controversial bride – 29-year-old Jacqui – who, at the time of filming, was still married to hubby, Ryan.

The pair initially hit it off, with Jacqui even scoring the phone number of 28-year-old Lehmann, who returned to Victoria during the off-season and linked with Southern club Port Melbourne Colts.

Jacqui has since found love with a different groom on the show, the season finale revealed this week.

But the biggest twist of all? This year MAFS starred ex-Balwyn forward Jeff Gobbels – a direct opponent of Lehmann’s in their Eastern playing days, while their respective powerhouse clubs had arguably the league’s fiercest rivalry at the time.

Gobbels, along with partner Rhi, were the only Married At First Sight couple this year to stand the test and make it to the end.

With his former opponent finding his happily-ever-after, could we see Lehmann follow the forward’s lead as a regular on the show next season?

BITING CLAIM

Disturbing to hear of a biting allegation against a player in a local football game over the weekend. We hear the victim has decided not to take the matter further.

A LITTLE HARSH

Catching the attention of a revered footy such as Mark ‘Choco’ Williams while playing local footy is no mean feat. Unfortunately for Mordialloc signing Chris Wheeler, he did for all the wrong reasons.

When Wheeler was asked about by Mordialloc about a career highlight ahead of his senior debut, he proudly recalled the time the 2004 Port Adelaide premiership coach called him “the worst footballer he’s ever seen” after a game against Ajax.

To be fair to Wheeler, he has a fair footy resume with two country footy premierships and two club best and best and fairests. Before crossing to the Bloods, he cracked the Omeo District team of the year at centre half back.

JOURNO v TALENT

News Corp AFL reporter Ed Bourke is donning the boots for St Mary’s Salesian in the VAFA this season alongside his brother and on debut he’s already had a moment. Former Victorian wicketkeeper Seb Gotch took a big grab over our man and Ed couldn’t help take to social media to show off their interaction.

In an exclusive new series, each week I will be misjudging the flight of a high ball so a former BBL cricketer can launch over me at the footy – this week it was great to catch up with Seb Gotch: pic.twitter.com/qRK744kwNK

— Ed Bourke (@edbourkeHS) April 7, 2025

THAT’S A LONG WAY TO GO

It’s almost 100km between Heidelberg and Dromana but there were more than a few eyebrows raised on the peninsula when the Tigers announced their Round 1 team on Thursday night.

Boom recruit, and Mornington Peninsula league gun, Ethan Johnstone found himself in the reserves for the Round 1 clash against North Heidelberg. Johnstone wasn’t the only big-name running out at 12pm either with Port Melbourne VFL-listed midfielder Angus Curry and four senior premiership players unable to make the Tigers’ top team. No doubt points and salary cap played a part in the selection squeeze, last year coach Vinny Dattoli said “you pick your best 22 and then you pick you’re best 22 that fits in the points”. That said Heidelberg played with 39 of 46 points. Curry was named best-on-ground in the 205-1 ressies romp, kicking three goals, while Johnstone booted four. The pair might struggle to force their way into the seniors again this week with the VFL on a bye.

Luke Walker as goal umpire watches Nick Riewoldt run into an open goal, only to have his kick smothered by Heath Shaw in the 2010 AFL grand final replay.

WALKER TAKES UP WHISTLE

From flag waver to whistle blower, Luke Walker has made a return to footy umpiring, returning to his roots. The former AFL grand final goal umpire is back — but this time as a field umpy. He officiated in the Hastings-Tyabb MPFNL Division 2 game last Saturday. Walker, who umpired a Southern league Division 1 grand final three years ago, was the goal umpire on the spot when Collingwood’s Heath Shaw famously “smothered” Nick Riewoldt in the goal square at the start of the 2010 AFL grand final replay.

SHARKS’ PORTSEA PREP

The Portsea sand dunes played a part in Sorrento’s power-running win over reigning premier Mt Eliza last Saturday. Fifty four years after John Kennedy’s Hawk Commandos, with sandbags over their shoulders, slogged their way through the Portsea sand dunes to lay the foundations for a premiership in 1971, Sharks coach James Hallahan employed the same pre-season training regime. And it had the desired effect when the 2025 season kicked off as a hard-fit Sorrento overran Mt Eliza.

EX-AFL PLAYER’S HUGE STATS

And what about the performance of Sorrento’s star recruit Ryan Clarke? The former Sydney and North Melbourne midfielder racked up 44 touches and kicked three goals, and looked happy as a Shark alongside his younger brother Dylan (ex-Essendon).

KICK IT TO US

Got your own quirky talking point from the weekend’s footy or a player who deserves recognition? Send it to us at: [e-mail] or hit us up on Facebook.