Mum injured by kick-to-kick at AFL game says wayward ball could’ve killed her son

A MELBOURNE mum of three has suffered serious spinal and neck injuries after being hit in the head by a football outside Etihad Stadium before an AFL match.

Jodie Burns was hit in the head by a football while line lining up for tickets to see the Carlton and GWS clash at Etihad. She is comforted at the Royal Melbourne Hospital by her husband, Colin Boyd and daughter, Laura Boyd. Picture; Tony Gough

A MELBOURNE mum of three has suffered serious spinal and neck injuries after being hit in the head by a football outside Etihad Stadium before an AFL match.

Jodie Burns, of Hoppers Crossing, wants the stadium to better police people playing kick-to-kick outside the ground after falling victim to the “freak accident”, that has left her in hospital since Saturday afternoon.

The 41-year-old — who is a full-time carer for her intellectually disabled son, Brock — was buying tickets to see last weekend’s Carlton-Greater Western Sydney clash with her family at the Gate 5 ticket booth when she was struck by a Sherrin.

A man playing kick-to-kick had booted the ball, ignoring signs around the stadium asking patrons to not kick footballs.

It hit a pole and rebounded into the side of Ms Burns’ head.

She suffered an indentation to her spinal chord and two bulging disks in her neck.

A mum injured by a footy wants a crackdown on kick-to-kick outside AFL matches. Picture: Getty Images

Ms Burns was treated by St John Ambulance members and paramedics before being taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital about 4.30pm Saturday in a stable condition.

She was discharged about 5pm Tuesday, but her health went downhill as soon as she arrived home, and she was taken back to hospital by ambulance eight hours later.

“I started vomiting severely, I lost control of my legs. It’s affecting my speech now,” Ms Burns said.

She underwent a brain scan on Wednesday, as doctors feared more permanent injuries.

The scan came back clear, but Ms Burns still faces weeks or even months of rehab.

“I just don’t want anyone else to go through what I’m going through,” she said.

“If it had hit my son, Brock, it would have killed him.”

Ms Burns doesn’t know who will care for Brock, 16, as well as her other children, Ross, 18, and Laura, 10, while she recovers.

Her husband, Colin Boyd, runs a trucking business and can’t afford to take time off.

“It’s something that should not have happened,” she said.

“They should not have been kicking the football.”

Etihad Stadium spokesman Bill Lane said: “This is a matter that the venue has always taken seriously and we will continue to be vigilant.”

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Twitter: @SamLandy