Local footy match abandoned after ex-AFL player sent over fence, knocked out

Ex-AFL player Eli Templeton is on the mend after being bumped over a fence and knocked out during a match, with the club providing a positive update.

Eli Templeton in action for Port Melbourne.

Ex-AFL player Eli Templeton was rushed to hospital on Saturday after a sickening on-field incident which resulted in a game being called off.

The former St Kilda player suffered a fractured skull after being bumped over a fence and hitting his head on concrete.

The Eastern Football League Premier Division match between Balwyn and East Doncaster at Balwyn Park was abandoned early in the third quarter as a result.

In positive news, Templeton was alert and spoke to club officials on Saturday night and is expected to make a full recovery.

The Tigers midfielder suffered severe head injuries in a scary clash with another ex-AFL player, Zac Clarke.

Eli Templeton was seriously injured on Saturday.

The incident occured as players chased the ball over the boundary line.

Templeton was sent over the boundary fence by a heavy bump from Clarke, landing on rocks near the coaches’ box, knocking him unconscious.

Clarke was reported for the hit and will face the Eastern league tribunal on Tuesday night.

The incident brought back memories of Shaun Bergin’s tragic death in 2011.

The Balwyn player hit his head on the ground after a mid-air collision and was on life support for 16 days before passing away.

Templeton was playing for third-placed Balwyn during a VFL bye week.

An ambulance was called and treated the stricken player for 45 minutes before taking him to the Alfred Hospital.

Balwyn president Richard Wilson thanks the club nurse, trainers and physios from both clubs and paramedics for their care.

“He spoke on the phone last night, he’s cognitive and speaking and passing all the tests, which means he’s bascially going to be OK,” he said.

“It was one of those unfortunate things that can happen, if he’d been three metres down the field he wouldn’t have hit anything.

“Given what we had in 2011 there was a fair bit of hush around the place. It was pretty eerie.

“The trainers were good, the physios were good and we had a highly-trained nurse there managing while the ambos came.

“With the pushing and shoving and stuff, it’s just a reminder to be really careful and look after players when you’re around a fence.

“Fences don’t move so the consequences can be pretty dire.”

Wilson said there was no plans to move the boundary line at this time.

The boundary sits about a metre inside the fence but this is the first time a serious incident has occurred.

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The club is yet to consider the matter, instead focusing on Templeton and their players welfare in the aftermath of the incident.

Leading by 23 points at the time, Balwyn were awarded the win - 10.8 (68) to 7.3 (45).

Tigers coach Rodney Eade told the Herald Sun on Saturday night players from both sides, particularly Clarke, were visibly distressed following the incident.

He said there was a narrow gap between the boundary line and fence at Balwyn Park.