A former Saint has been rushed to hospital, reportedly with a fractured skull, after a shocking incident that saw a local footy game called off on Saturday.
Eli Templeton was sent crashing over a fence while representing Balwyn Football Club and landed head-first onto the surrounding concrete.
He suffered concussion in the shocking incident that’s been described in a News Corp report as “not malicious”.
Watch every blockbuster AFL match this weekend Live & Ad-Break Free In-Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
It was former Docker Zac Clarke who made the contact that sent Templeton over the fence in the clash between Balwyn and Doncaster East.
Templeton was reportedly unconscious for at least two minutes after the accident.
There’s reports the 26-year-old suffered a fractured skull in the sickening collision which left teammates and those at the ground visibly shaken.
But in good news for Templeton, he is set to make a full recovery.
Balwyn president Richard Wilson told local media the youngster was “cognitive and speaking and passing all the tests” on Saturday night.
It’s believed if Templeton had gone over the fence a few meters away from where he landed, it would have been onto grass.
Templeton had been granted permission to play for Balwyn after his VFL side Port Melbourne had the bye this weekend.
In a statement, Port Melbourne confirmed Templeton was injured in the collision.
“The club is aware that one of our VFL players Eli Templeton was injured in a local game today playing for Balwyn,” the statement read.
“We ask that everyone respects his privacy and we will update in due course.”
The 26-year-old played 14 games for the Saints across three seasons before being delisted at the end of 2016.
The Burnie product was the number three pick in the 2013 Rookie Draft but his AFL career was over by the age of just 21.
The Balwyn clash was called off early in the third term after Templeton’s sickening injury with the club leading by 23 points at the time.
.