Glenn McFarlane lists the 10 biggest injury stories in VFL-AFL football history
IN the wake of Gary Ablett’s season-ending shoulder injury, GLENN MCFARLANE looks at the 10 biggest injury stories in VFL-AFL history.
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IN the wake of Gary Ablett’s season-ending shoulder injury, Glenn McFarlane looks at the 10 biggest injury stories in VFL-AFL history.
Did we miss any? Comment below or Tweet your suggestions to @superfooty or @MaccaHeraldSun.
1. John Coleman, 1954
Last month marked 60 years since legendary Essendon full-forward John Coleman went down with a dislocated knee — complete with cartilage and ligament damage — which ended his career. Bomber fans old enough to remember it still recall the despair surrounding the incident. An injury that would now likely keep him out for six to eight weeks ended up being Coleman’s career as the pain proved too much on a few minor comeback attempts. He never played for Essendon in a VFL match again. He was 25.
2. Peter Hudson, 1972
The Hawthorn champion had already kicked eight goals against Melbourne before half-time in the opening round of the 1972 season. Then, as hearts sank around Glenferrie Oval, Hudson’s knee buckled under him and the man with the greatest goals per game average was sidelined. It made for massive news as he had kicked 150 goals the previous year in Hawthorn’s premiership success. Hudson would make a celebrated one-game return to VFL football the following year, being flown in on a helicopter to Waverley and kicking eight goals against Collingwood. He would return for one full VFL season, booting 100 goals in 1977.
3. Jason McCartney, 2002-03
North Melbourne defender Jason McCartney suffered life-threatening burns when he and teammate Mick Martyn were drinking at Paddy’s Bar when the Bali Bombing went off in October 2002. McCartney initially thought his burns were minor, insisting others should be treated before him. But his injuries were severe with burns to 50 per cent of his body, and he almost died on the operating table due to blood poisoning. He spent five days in a coma. Incredibly, McCartney made his comeback to football the following year in a celebrated game before retiring immediately after the match.
4. John Greening, 1972
Collingwood’s young star John Greening seemed to be sailing towards football greatness and a possible Brownlow Medal in 1972 when he was knocked out in one of the most controversial incidents in the VFL-AFL history. In a game against St Kilda at Moorabbin in 1972, Greening was felled by Jim O’Dea. He was in a coma for days due to severe cerebral concussion. Teammates feared he was dead when they saw him leave the ground on a stretcher in a sickening state. O’Dea was subsequently suspended for 10 weeks. Greening made a brief comeback in 1974, playing three games that season before a further six in 1975-76. But sadly he would never again reach the heights of his early years.
5. Neil Sachse, 1975
In one of football’s great tragedies, Footscray’s Neil Sachse became a quadriplegic after an accidental clash during a game in 1975. It was Sachse’s second game for the Bulldogs after coming across from South Australia. Sachse would later form a foundation in his name to raise money for research into spinal cord injuries. The foundation has raised more than $2 million over the past two decades.
6. Bob Pratt, 1935
This was a big story in 1935, but just imagine how big it would have been in 2014. South Melbourne’s champion forward Bob Pratt was injured on the Thursday late afternoon before the Grand Final against Collingwood in the most unusual of circumstances. He was getting off a tram in High Street, Prahran when he was struck by a truck being driven by a Swans supporter. It resulted in a sprained right ankle, a lacerated leg, an injured left foot and a badly bruised finger. Considered the most important player for his side, Pratt missed the game and the Magpies won the premiership by 20 points.
7. Graham Polak, 2008
The Richmond footballer was struck by a tram just hours after playing for his team in a match against Carlton. He suffered severe bruising to the brain and serious fears were held for him during the early days of his recovery. Polak would make an emotional comeback to football the following year before several concussion incidents brought an end to his career. The incident made massive news as Tiger and football fans alike followed Polak’s progress.
8 . Tom Lonergan, 2006
Geelong’s Tom Lonergan suffered a serious injury to his kidney after bravely backing into a pack against Melbourne in only his seventh AFL game. Initially, he was thought to be OK, but his condition deteriorated through the night which saw him lose his right kidney. During the operation more than 40 units of blood had to be flushed through his system and he was placed in an induced coma that last four days. Bravely, Longeran committed to carrying on his AFL career and he has been rewarded in 2011 with a premiership with the Cats.
9. Paul Salmon, 1984
It might not have been the worst injury, but Paul Salmon’s knee injury in 1984 created huge news. The Essendon forward had dominated the start of his second season of football, drawing some comparisons with John Coleman. He easily lead the Coleman Medal to that stage with 63 goals from his 13 games and seemed likely to top the ton before Collingwood’s Geoff Raines fell across his knee in the centre square at Victoria Park. It ended his season and cost him a spot in the 1984 flag side, though he did return late the following year to play a part in the 1985 premiership.
10. Gary Ablett, 2014
Sure, this might just look like your standard footballer doing a shoulder injury and missing the rest of the season. But when it is Gary Ablett and when it might cost him the chance to become only the fifth footballer in history to win three Brownlows, it is big news. Yes, he will likely miss Gold Coast’s first finals appearance, but the biggest aspect to this story is the Brownlow. Imagine how tense Brownlow night will be when Gill McLachlan starts to reveal the votes post Round 16.
Did we miss any? Comment below or Tweet your suggestions to @superfooty or @MaccaHeraldSun.
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