Doncaster East players mock opponent’s spine fracture after controversial tackle

Two Doncaster East players could be forced to visit a spinal recovery ward after mocking an opponent whose neck and spine were fractured in a heartless Mad Monday stunt. The player was left unconscious and with multiple fractures through his back and neck after a “spear tackle”.

The tackle almost left Lincoln a paraplegic. Picture: Wayne Taylor

A suburban footy club is under fire over a crude Mad Monday stunt mocking a rival player whose spine was broken in a controversial on-field tackle.

A photograph has surfaced of a Doncaster East Football Club player impersonating Croydon forward, Lincoln, who suffered three fractures to his neck and spine after being “spear tackled” by an opponent.

The 22-year-old was lucky not to have been left paraplegic.

Two Doncaster East players made light of his injuries by posing for a photo that shows one dressed in a red wig, neck brace and Croydon footy jumper being held upside down by a teammate during their end of year celebration.

Lincoln said it felt like “a kick in the nuts.”

“It’s heartless. I was shell shocked when I saw it,” he said.

Two Doncaster East players mock Lincoln during Mad Monday celebrations. Picture: Supplied

Lincoln in hospital after the tackle. Picture: Supplied

Lincoln was taking possession of the ball when he was “flipped upside down” and dropped on his back and neck, rendering him unconscious, during an EFL Division 1 reserves match at Croydon Oval on June 29.

He was rushed to Maroondah Hospital and spent 11 weeks housebound with a neck brace.

He is currently undergoing rehabilitation and may never play footy again.

Doncaster East coach Steve Buckle confirmed the two players at the centre of the Mad Monday impersonation will be sanctioned.

They could be ordered to visit spinal recovery wards as penalties, he added.

“There could be possible visits to rehab centres and things like that for the boys to experience and see the seriousness and gravity of what actually could have happened to Lincoln,” he said.

While the players did the “wrong thing” the club shouldn’t be “hanging them for it”, Mr Buckle said.

Lincoln was lying on the ground after the tackle by a Doncaster East player. Picture: Supplied

“They’re young boys who have obviously made a mistake.”

The Eastern Football League was also slammed over its investigation into the tackle.

EFL investigators ruled it as “accidental” and did not progress it to a tribunal or sanction the player.

Croydon Football Club president Anthony Thompson and Lincoln’s mother Bronwyn urged the league to “wake up” and crackdown on dangerous on-field tackles.

“This needs to stop. There needs to be consequences,” his mum said.

Lincoln fears for the safety of other players should the league not rethink how it deals with on-field aggression.

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“I am lucky I can still walk. The doctors said had the injury been any lower, I could have been a paraplegic and any higher I could have serious head injuries,” he said.

“I hope the league learns … (the tackle) was off limits.

“I would hate for this to happen to someone else. It could affect them for the rest of their life.”

The Doncaster East player who laid the tackle was not at the Mad Monday event.

EFL chief executive Troy Swainston would not respond to criticism of its initial investigation but said a fresh probe had been launched into the Mad Monday dress-up.

“The league will be engaging with our AFL Victoria Investigator and Vilification Officer to start the process shortly,” he said.

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