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A young Epping footballer is receiving end-of-life care after a tragic incident during a suburban match in Melbourne’s north at the weekend.
Nathan Fitzgerald knocked heads with another player during a tackle before his head hit the ground on a synthetic cricket patch, according to Epping Football Netball Club president Luke De Vincentis.
The incident happened during the reserves match with Lalor at Lalor Football Club on Sydney Court in the early afternoon on Saturday.
The 27-year-old’s condition worsened overnight, according to a social media post from his club on Sunday afternoon.
“We are devastated to share that our much loved teammate [and] clubman Nathan Fitzgerald’s condition deteriorated overnight and [he] is now receiving end-of-life care,” the Epping Football Netball Club said.
“The entire Fitzgerald family is in our thoughts during this horrible situation, and we ask that you respect their privacy. Please take a moment to hug & kiss your loved ones; life is precious.”
The club held an event to honour “Fitzy” on Sunday, after which they shared the devastating update.
“While he’s really tenacious on the field, he’s a gentleman off the field,” De Vincentis.
Police confirmed a 27-year-old man had sustained a serious head injury during the game on Saturday, but that there was “no evidence of criminality during the incident”.
An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said emergency services responded to a call at 12.55pm and transported one patient in a critical condition to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
The match was abandoned after the third-quarter incident.
In a statement later on Saturday, Epping Football Netball Club said both the reserves and senior games had been cancelled.
In their own statement on Saturday evening, the Lalor Football Netball Club said they wished the injured player, who remains in a critical condition in hospital, a “speedy recovery”.
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Caroline Schelle is an education reporter, and joined The Age in 2022. She previously covered courts at AAP.Connect via X or email.From our partners
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