The region’s first day of local football for the new season has thrown up a scary incident, with a Portarlington player face-planting the ground following a tackle in the reserve grade clash with Barwon Heads.
An ambulance was called after Baxter Stephensen was left motionless during the second quarter of the clash at Howard Harmer Oval.
“He gathered the ball and was tackled, but his head hit the ground quite firmly, face-planted, (he was ) unconscious, (he) didn’t move for some time and then had spasms,” Demons president Steve Cogger said
“It wasn’t a good look, (but) certainly no malice involved.
“Our trainers decided that he shouldn’t be moved, and so the game was stopped at that stage to wait for an ambulance, which took the best part of an hour.
“But we finally got it there, and he did improve as the time went on while he was lying on the ground.”
Stephensen, who joined the Demons from Ocean Grove in the off-season, was taken to the Epworth Hospital for precautionary scans and is expected to be kept for observation overnight.
Cogger has been in contact with Stephensen’s mum, who says the 20-year-old is upbeat despite what happened.
“He’s had some scans, (and they’re) just waiting on the results of those,” Cogger said.
“He’s in a brace. His mum’s with him, and feedback from mum is that he’s up, he’s chirpy, and he’s cracking a few jokes.
“He’ll spend the night there, and we’ll be in touch with him in the morning to see what the result is.”
Barwon Heads was leading Portarlington 3.2 (20) to 0.4 (4) when the incident occurred.
However, under AFL Barwon rules, the team will share the points with the match abandoned before half-time.
X: @krockfootball
