Tributes for Elisabeth Memos who died after collapsing on football field

The partner of a young footballer who suffered a fatal stroke weeks after a horrific on-field head knock hopes clubs can learn something from her death.

Elisabeth Memos passed away in hospital aged just 23-years old after she collapsed while playing football for Laurimar Power. Picture: Supplied

A young footballer who suffered a fatal stroke has been remembered as a beautiful, determined woman, as her devastated partner questions if a head knock in the weeks prior led to her death.

Elisabeth Memos passed away in hospital at just 23-years old, after collapsing while playing football for her local club, Laurimar Power, last month.

Her partner Laura Sheridan said they had been saving for IVF and a house, hoping to build a home for their future children and beloved rescue dog Alvin.

After Elisabeth’s death on June 6, Miss Sheridan said she decided against an autopsy because it wouldn’t change anything.

But she now wonders whether the stroke was linked to a match four weeks earlier, when Elisabeth was accidentally kicked in the head and concussed, and says she will truly never get an answer.

A doctor specialising in stroke told the Herald Sun the head knock likely caused both a concussion and a tear to the lining of an artery.

The latter can cause a stroke.

Miss Sheridan said Elisabeth had taken the two week concussion break and thought the neck pain she experienced the day before her stroke was because she “slept funny”.

“But that pain was the clot,” she said.

Elisabeth underwent emergency surgery but Miss Sheridan said she never woke up and passed away on Monday morning.

“I held her the way I used to,” she said.

“I heard her last breath and felt her last heart beat.”

Elisabeth loved her local club Laurimar Power and one day hoped to be a physiotherapist for her favourite AFL club Collingwood. Picture: Supplied

Miss Sheridan, who studied while Elisabeth worked to support them, was left behind and struggled to pay the bills, with her family setting up a GoFundMe in her name.

She wants Elisabeth to be remembered as a positive, fun and determined person.

She said she loved local footy, cooking and Collingwood, with a long-term goal to be the team’s physiotherapist.

“She was a fighter,” she said.

“I’ve never seen her so happy as she was when she was coming home, completely drenched and covered in mud from training.”

Miss Sheridan was grateful for the NFL and AFL, who covered the cost of Elisabeth’s funeral, and said Elisabeth’s teammates were “wonderful and supportive”.

“(They) went above and beyond,” she said.

But she would like greater awareness that serious injuries from a knock to the head can take weeks to show.

“Elisabeth didn’t play while concussed, she had time off during her concussion … (and) got clearance to play again,” she said.

“Despite the fact that the right precautions were taken to recover from the concussion, further damage can still occur.

“They (football leagues) should be aware of such incidents occurring in a game as awareness and knowledge is important.

“This can happen to anyone, especially in such a contact heavy sport such as footy.”

An AFL spokesman said they provided immediate assistance to Elisabeth’s family “upon hearing of this heart-breaking news”.

“The AFL has also spoken with the Laurimar Power Football Club President to ensure the club was aware of critical incident resources on AFL Club Help and encourage any player or official to reach out to the NFNL or AFL Victoria if they require any further support during this challenging time,” he said.

“This tragic story is a reminder to all players that if you suffer any head trauma to get it assessed urgently by a doctor, and to seek further treatment and assessment if symptoms persist.

“The AFL’s Community football concussion guidelines encourage all persons who suffer a concussion or head trauma to ensure they get it urgently checked by a doctor.”