Award to be named and given to Michael Pisker at St Kevin’s best and fairest

A Melbourne footballer who lost vision in one eye in a horror on-field incident will be the inaugural winner of a club award carrying his name. Here is what we know.

St Kevins’ Michael Pisker will be honoured tonight by his club. Picture: Andy Brownbill

St Kevin’s Old Boy’s Football Club (SKOB) will pay tribute to Michael Pisker in the ultimate way on Friday night with an award set to be named and given to him in his honour.

Pisker was seriously injured in a football collision on July 20 during a VAFA game for SKOB against University Blues.

He was rushed to hospital with facial injuries to his head and eye and was in an induced coma for 17 days.

While Pisker will have no vision in his right eye for the rest of his life, he is slowly on the road to an almost full recovery.

But he will never play football again.

Michael Pisker in hospital after the incident.

SKOB president Pat Mount said the club would name their Most Courageous Award after Pisker, recognising what he’s gone through and how courageous he has been on and off the field during his major setback.

“We thought what’s a good way to honour him and pay our respects to what has happened,” he revealed.

“We thought he was a very courageous player himself, so we decided the most courageous award, we didn’t have one, would be the most fitting tribute to him.

“It’s being instituted tonight (Friday) and the trophy has been prepared.

“That will be presented to him tonight.

“He will be attending with his partner, it should be a really good night.”

The president said the outlook for Pisker was looking good with the 26-year-old not suffering any serious brain damage from the incident.

“We were worried about brain damage and other things,” he said.

“Thankfully that seems to have not occurred and he has got pretty good cognitive functions.

“He is talking and seems to have good memory.

“There is still a long way to go.”

One day the club hopes he will be back as a valuable part of the club.

“We’d love him to stay involved at the club, whether that is coaching or helping out in some other way, there are plenty of roles he can fill,” Mount said.

“There’s no point rushing it because he has got so much rehab and other stuff to come.

“In the future we’d be happy to have to conversation but that is six months away.

“To think of where it could have gone, in terms of brain damage, and other things, he is in as good a position as we could have hoped for.”

Mount said the support from the community had been fantastic and wanted to thank everyone who has reached out to help Pisker and his family.