Birdwood Football Club secure victory in first match since the tragic death of Antonio Loiacono

A fortnight after Antonio Loiacono died after an on-field incident in the Adelaide Hills, teammates and their opponents have paused for a touching tribute.

They say a week is a long time in football.

So for the Birdwood players taking the field for the first time since their teammate Antonio Loiacono died almost a fortnight ago, the past two weeks must have felt like an eternity.

On Saturday, they stood arm in arm to remember the 20-year-old who died in the Royal Adelaide Hospital after an on-field collision in the club’s season-opening match against Gumeracha.

Mr Loiacono went into cardiac arrest after the collision and was declared brain dead after being flown to hospital.

Before Mr Loiacono’s teammates returned to the field to face Macclesfield, his younger brother Jack Loiacono, wearing his older brother’s guernsey, and his girlfriend Allana Collins walked hand-in-hand to the centre of the ground to toss the coin.

“I’d like to thank you first off for all coming today,” Birdwood Football Netball Club president Brendan Loechel said to a grieving crowd ahead of a minute’s silence in honour of the young footballer.

The 1 minute silence at the Birdwood v Macclesfield a Grade team following Loiacono's tragic death a fortnight ago. Picture: Ben Clark

Birdwood Football Netball Club president Brendan Loechel, Jack Loiacono and Antonio's girlfriend Allana Collins. Picture: Ben Clark

“I’d like to acknowledge Antonio’s family … Macclesfield footy club, you’re a great bunch of blokes, you’ve reached out to us all week to try and make things as easy as possible for us and I really appreciate that.

“Past players that have come and all got behind the club, it’s a great turn out, I really appreciate the blokes that organised that for us.

“We obviously can’t do everything and for blokes to step up and do that was fantastic.”

Mr Loiacono had been playing his first season for Birdwood when he died, but made an immediate impact on the club.

“(He was) just a joyful, cheerful lad,” Birdwood A grade captain Jarred Jones said ahead of the game.

“He bought his own aura.

“Everyone had their own relationship with Toni, no matter how long, everyone had a special relationship with him.

Mr Jones said returning to the field was an important part of the grieving process.

“It’s a massive step for the boys,” he said.

“It’s been a tough two weeks so it’s a bit of a hurdle for them, the first hurdle of many for the boys to get over.

“Obviously we didn’t know how it would look, but the boys have really come together.

“The last seven days especially, the boys have really got around one another.

“The boys are ready for it, it’s going to be massive for them.

“They’ve been keen as mustard, they’ve been keen.

Birdwood footballer Antonio Loiacono died two weeks ago after an on-field collision during an Adelaide Hills Football League match. Picture: Supplied

Antonio Loiacono was critically injured during an on field collision at Gumeracha Oval.

He said the most important thing for Mr Loiacono’s grieving teammates was to “stay around each other.

“The boys have been around each other so we’ve managed to get the spirits back up,” he said.

Mr Jones said he was “stoked” Jack Loiacono and Ms Collins were able to “be a special part of today”.

The emotion was palpable throughout the Roosters’ scrappy match and when a quick goal was kicked just after half time to put them ahead by two goals, all 18 Birdwood players gathered to celebrate.

Minutes later, when two majors were kicked in quick succession, both goalkickers pointed to the sky, their black armband-clad arms raised.

At three-quarter time, Birdwood coach Rian Nelson rallied his players, who huddled together for a collective “Toni” before returning to the field.

From there, the goals flowed as Birdwood stretched their lead to more than seven goals late in the last quarter.

When the final kick of the game sailed through for a goal after the siren, supporters, family and friends poured onto the ground to celebrate.

In scenes reminiscent of a premiership win, Birdwood players and supporters huddled in a circle on the field to sing the club song with Jack Loiacono and Ms Collins in the centre holding a framed photo of their beloved brother and partner.

“It’s just awesome,” Mr Loechel said after the game.

“We’re just ecstatic.

“It’s the start of getting back to normal.

“We could lose every game for the rest of the season and it doesn’t matter, this is just beautiful.”

Originally published as Birdwood Football Club secure victory in first match since the tragic death of Antonio Loiacono