A teenager has been put into an induced coma after an out-of-control Under-17 football match ended in a brawl.
Several red and yellow cards were shown during a violent first half of the grand final between Angle Vale and Two Wells at Adelaide’s Hamley Bridge Oval on Sunday, with a brawl breaking out between players at one point.
Shortly before half-time, Angle Vale player Henry Nau, 17, was seen losing consciousness as he tried to leave the pitch.
Some onlookers suggested Henry may have been the big hitter, but those reports have yet to be confirmed by the Adelaide Plains Football League.
“At this point we don’t know if it was a crash or an accident. We’re not sure,” APFL President Michael Vigor said. 9News.
Play was halted for almost an hour while ambulance crews attended the scene and transported Henry to Royal Adelaide Hospital, where he remains in a stable condition.
Henry reportedly suffered another head injury early in the match.
Relatives said his CT scans showed positive signs of recovery.
Henry Nau (pictured) was put into an induced coma after suffering a suspected kingpin during an under-17 football grand final on Saturday
During the match between Angle Vale and Two Wells several yellow and red cards were shown and at one point the players ended up fighting (pictured: Mr Nau being carried away)
However, the news is of little comfort to Henry’s shocked teammates, who watched as their friend was surrounded by tarps and frightened staff after he collapsed.
“(He) fell and was a little dazed and then I’m not sure… then he just collapsed afterward,” teammate Jack Pessano said.
“It’s very scary. Knowing that this could happen to one of my great friends who I play football with is very scary.”
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