VFL/AFL games record holder Brent Harvey suffers horrific broken leg playing local footy

AFL great Brent Harvey was forced to wait for an ambulance in agony for 50 minutes after a horrific local footy injury on Saturday. Here’s why. WARNING: Graphic.

North Melbourne legend Brent Harvey has been taken to hospital after suffering a horror injury playing for his suburban club.

The VFL/AFL games record holder, 44, was stretchered off the ground, and forced to wait about 50 minutes for an ambulance, after badly breaking his leg in the first quarter of North Heidelberg’s Round 1 clash against Heidelberg.

It was a difficult day for the Bulldogs, who suffered an agonising one-point defeat to the reigning NFNL Division 1 premier at Shelley Reserve.

In a seemingly innocuous incident, Harvey - who played 432 AFL games between 1996 and 2016 - won the ball in a contest before going to ground awkwardly.

He remained on the ground holding his leg before medical staff from both clubs came to his aid.

Brent Harvey broke his leg in the first quarter on Saturday. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The AFL/VFL games record holder was forced to wait more than 50 minutes for an ambulance. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The game between North Heidelberg and Heidelberg was stopped for several minutes. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The game was stopped for several minutes while the Australian football Hall of Famer was stabilised and carried off.

Harvey had to wait until halftime for an ambulance to arrive and take him to Epworth Hospital.

Ambulance Victoria said given Harvey’s injury wasn’t life-threatening, an ambulance was dispatched under normal driving conditions.

They also confirmed they were reviewing the incident to understand how it took so long for an ambulance to arrive.

“Ambulance Victoria is working to provide the best care for every patient, and we understand that waiting for an ambulance can be distressing for those at the scene,” an Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said.

“Emergency ambulances are allocated based on clinical need, with priority given to the sickest patients, particularly those with life-threatening conditions such as cardiac arrest and stroke.”

But Ambulance Victoria Union general secretary Danny Hill said that any patient having to wait about 50 minutes was “too long.”

“Of course it’s always a concern to hear situations like this, that is way too long to wait for an ambulance,” Mr Hill said.

He said that while he was unaware of the specifics of the Harvey injury on Saturday, a flood of non-emergency calls were increasing ambulance wait times.

“Nationwide we are seeing paramedics dealing with cases that should be dealt with by a general practitioner,” he said.

Instead of waiting to see their GP, Mr Hill said patients were falling back on triple-0.

“That’s what is really overwhelming the system at the moment is that sort of work,” he said.

“When that happens, the crews are unavailable to respond to the real emergencies and sadly, probably, that’s what has happened to this footballer today.”

Mr Hill estimated that around 80 per cent of calls paramedics attended were for people that didn’t require any form of treatment and paramedics had to organise doctors appointments for some patients, keeping them from attending emergency situations.

“People are often calling out of frustration and desperation, something that has only increased following the pandemic,” he said.

Harvey has been a regular in the North Heidelberg line-up since his AFL retirement. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Harvey has been a regular in the North Heidelberg line-up since his AFL retirement, playing whenever his North Melbourne commitments allowed.

Speaking after the game, Bulldogs coach Jason Heatley said everyone’s thoughts were with Harvey.

“Obviously, we’re only thinking of Boomer,” he said.

“I haven’t got any details but it didn’t look good and I know the boys will be checking up on him tonight.”

Trailing by 25 points at three-quarter-time, Heatley implored his team to fight back for Boomer and they responded.

North four goals in 15 minutes to roar back into the match and scores were level when Majak Daw kicked a behind.

Captain Sam Gilmore was dominant for Heidelberg. Picture: Hamish Blair

However, new recruit Jed Rule was the hero for Heidelberg, taking a towering pack mark and kicking a clutch goal to put the Tigers back on top with 10 minutes to play.

The Bulldogs weren’t finished though as Josh Hamilton brought the home team back to within a point in the dying minutes but they couldn’t find the winning score.

In his first game as Heidelberg coach Vinny Dattoli paid tribute to his team’s ability to change the momentum.

“We had a few things go against us, a few umpiring decisions, but that’s football,” he said.

“It was good for our young guys, to get that understanding of what the intensity is like at this level, so it was nice to come away with a win.

“I thought at three-quarter-time we’d done enough to run out the game but to their credit they hit back at 100 miles an hour and kicked four goals really quickly.

“Then to our credit we responded and Jed Rule kicked a big goal.

“It was a hard day for him, first time at the club, meeting a few new guys – he’d been training at Box Hill so we hadn’t had the luxury of seeing him – so he’ll be better for the run.”

Dattoli said it was a shock for everyone involved to see Harvey taken off.

“Boomer is a legend of footy and a lot of respect had to be shown, he was hurt badly and we wish him well,” he said.

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“I sent (one of our players) over to check on him, out of respect, and to see if they needed help with the stretcher.”

Heidelberg captain Sam Gilmore was a standout in the ruck on a difficult day of talls, while Jonathan Tomasiello made a sensational debut, kicking four goals.

For North Heidelberg, Kieran Jakic fought hard against Gilmore, Liam Hunt and Jesse Tardio were prolific in midfield and Brock Chircop also impressed.

Elsewhere in Division 1, Hurstbridge held off a fast-finishing West Preston Lakeside to claim a thrilling three-point win, while Bundoora earned an eight-point win over Banyule and Montmorency hammered Whittlesea by 66 points.