The worst AFL and NRL injuries in 2020 so far
GWS star Callan Ward suffered a brutal broken finger on the weekend – but where does the injury rank in the worst we’ve seen in the AFL and NRL this season? See the list. WARNING: GRAPHIC
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The AFL and NRL seasons may only be halfway done, but already both codes have endured their fair share of nasty injuries in 2020.
No-one likes seeing players get hurt, but unfortunately that is the nature of contact sport – accidents do happen.
Here are some of the worst injuries we’ve seen so far this year, in no particular order.
CALLAN WARD’S FINGER
Former GWS captain Callan Ward looks to be out of action for some time after sustaining a serious injury to his middle finger against West Coast on Sunday.
The compound fracture was clearly visible as the 30-year-old left the field for treatment, with the digit bent almost at a right angle.
Giants coach Leon Cameron said his star onballer was due to consult a surgeon post-game, with an operation to repair the damage the most likely outcome.
ISAAC QUAYNOR’S LEG GASH
After Collingwood’s Isaac Quaynor attempted to tackle Sydney debutant Sam Wicks during their Round 10 clash, he sat in the centre of the Gabba holding his leg.
Trainers immediately rushed out to the 20-year-old and called for a stretcher, but television replays of the incident didn’t appear to show any kind of fracture or disformity.
It wasn’t until a photo was released post-game that the extent and severity of the injury was revealed – Wicks’ metal studs had pierced Quaynor’s shin, slicing a 20cm gash in the Magpie’s lower leg.
It was a horror injury that was expected to keep the defender out for a number of weeks, and sparked an AFL investigation into the types of boots players are wearing.
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SIA SOLIOLA’S FACIAL FRACTURE
Canberra forward Sia Soliola was forced to undergo surgery, to insert plates above his top jaw, after having his face fractured in a collision with St George Illawarra prop Blake Lawrie.
The 34-year-old was taken immediately to hospital following the incident, which occurred in early July, and had his operation four days later.
In posting the X-rays of the damage and subsequent repair job on Instagram, Soliola maintained his sense of humour, stating: “At least my teeth are intact”.
ISAAC HEENEY’S ANKLE OP
Sydney was dealt a huge blow in Round 6 when Isaac Heeney dislocated his ankle against Richmond – rupturing the medial ligament at the same time – and bringing his season to a premature end.
The injury required surgery, which the star Swan was promptly booked in for.
After going under the knife, the 24-year-old did what most athletes seem to do these days – post photos of the aftermath on social media.
The Instagram upload showed the numerous incisions the surgeon had to make to repair Heeney’s damaged ankle, along with the significant swelling.
Nasty.
BRODY MIHOCEK/KYRON HAYDEN CONCUSSIONS
Aussie rules is such a high-pace, high-impact sport that when collisions between players occur they can sometimes have devastating consequences.
There was no better example of this than the sickening concussions suffered by North Melbourne’s Kyron Hayden and Collingwood’s Brodie Mihocek this season.
Both were running back with the flight of the ball, only to be collected by the leading forward on both occasions as they left themselves unprotected, and were knocked unconscious.
Hayden was assisted from the ground by trainers, while Mihocek was stretchered off.
It is a reminder of the courage AFL players show week-in, week-out.
WATCH THE MIHOCEK COLLISION BELOW:
Brody Mihocek has been stretchered off the field after this contest. #AFLDeesPies pic.twitter.com/Uo6EDR1vTp
— AFL (@AFL) August 15, 2020
WATCH THE HAYDEN COLLISION BELOW:
Courage.
— AFL (@AFL) July 18, 2020
Kyron Hayden has been helped off the field after this incident. #AFLTigersNorth pic.twitter.com/rPkhggnr0g
COREY OATES’ RARE LEG LACERATION
Brisbane back-rower Corey Oates feared his career would be over after suffering a suspected compound fracture early last month against Wests Tigers.
Subsequent medical assessment instead diagnosed the 25-year-old with a large haematoma and deep gash in his leg – the cause of which is still unknown.
“They’d never seen a cut like it, it was a good circle – it was about a twenty-cent coin, or a bit bigger (in size). It was about five centimetres deep,” he told Nine News after a two-and-a-half hour operation to repair the damage.
“The bloke said: you’re lucky, you missed one of your main arteries by about half-a-centimetre.”
Oates was expected to miss five weeks, but is yet to return for the Broncos.
WILL KELLY’S ELBOW HYPEREXTENSION
When it comes to debuts, Collingwood father-son talent Will Kelly had both a memorable and forgettable one all in the space of two hours.
The son of premiership Magpie Craig Kelly had earlier slotted a goal with his first kick at AFL level, but celebrations soon turned sour later in the match when he landed awkwardly on his elbow from a marking contest during the final term.
The 20-year-old’s limb bent underneath him upon impact with the ground, causing it to fracture just above the elbow.
He required surgery to fix the break.
WATCH THE KELLY INCIDENT BELOW:
🔺 Will Kelly major yikes #AFLPiesHawks pic.twitter.com/OpFL3bwZlQ
— Fiddy Out (@FiddyOut) July 10, 2020
JOEL THOMPSON’S TONGUE
If you get squeamish at the sight of blood, look away now.
Sea Eagles second-rower Joel Thompson made stomachs churn after a photo of his lacerated tongue was posted online by teammate Curtis Sironen following their Round 14 loss to Newcastle Knights.
Captioned with “he’s tough the old bush goat”, the picture showed Thompson with a huge split in his tongue, and blood all around his mouth.
A head clash with Knights dummy Kurt Mann was to blame, with the contact enough to sever an artery in Thompson’s tongue.
“I must have had my tongue sideways at that moment and it just went straight through,” he explained.
“When I saw the blood I thought, ‘f---, my teeth’.
“I was more concerned about my teeth because I thought, ‘I’m going to lose my front teeth here’.”
Crazy.
JEREMY HOWE’S PCL PAIN
As the third Collingwood player to make the list, Jeremy Howe is more widely known for his high-flying marks than anything else.
But it was his nasty knee injury that grabbed headlines when the aerial expert hyperextended it during a collision with Jacob Hopper in the Magpies’ Round 4 clash with GWS.
Subsequent scans revealed the 30-year-old had ruptured his posterior cruciate ligament during the incident and would require surgery to repair the damage, casting huge doubt over his 2020 season.
Collingwood is still holding out some hope he might return should the club play finals.
CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD’S DISLOCATED DIGIT
Fingers are only small, but they can cause extreme pain when badly injured – just as Canberra fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad found out last month.
The Raiders star sustained a compound dislocation to his little finger during his side’s win over South Sydney in early July, after he was stood up in a tackle.
The 25-year-old was visibly in pain as he left the field, clutching his hand while his finger – which had bone protruding from it – bled.
He underwent minor surgery to reset the joint and sew up the skin.
BRAIDON BURNS’ BUSTED KNEE
South Sydney centre Braidon Burns was another to have his season ended abruptly by injury after suffering a horrific knee dislocation against Canterbury.
The 24-year-old Rabbitoh’s leg was forced under him as he was tackled while reaching for the tryline in early July.
Burns knew the injury was serious as he immediately gestured to his teammates and medicos on the sideline.
Coach Wayne Bennett confirmed his star would be missing for the rest of the season, after it was revealed he had dislocated his patella.
Braidon Burns off with suspected patella (kneecap) dislocation. Can see clear deformity, hopefully just dislocation and no patella tendon/knee ligament involvement. Best case: rehab & 3-6 weeks. If soft tissue damage significant & kneecap unstable: surgery & 3+ months pic.twitter.com/7zPjN0A5R0
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) July 5, 2020
ANDREW FIFITA’S FINGER
Cronulla prop Andrew Fifita has been missing in action since injuring his hamstring in Round 9 – but it is an additional finger injury that has been delaying his return.
The Sharks star revealed on social media he’d undergone surgery to repair his crooked middle digit, which he had bravely played with for three games before being forced out.
In his Instagram post last fortnight, Fifita was upbeat about his recovery.
For people asking why I’m out, I’m two weeks down and two weeks to go,” Fifita said.
“Playing with a little sore finger. Funny to play three games with this.
“Next minute an X-ray to see this.
“The operation went well, and rehab is going good. See you all in two weeks.”
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