James Murphy
Shocking scenes at McLaughlin Park caused the Millicent v West Gambier A Grade football fixture to be cancelled on Saturday.
Shortly after the first bounce, a smother gone wrong spelt disaster for West forward Nathan Taylor.
The 23-year-old’s leg was broken in the impact and suddenly football was put on the back burner.
All focus for both clubs was on the wellbeing of Taylor and with him unable to be moved until his leg was stabilised, the decision was made to call off the game.
West Gambier Football Club president Shane Giddings described the incident as a freak football accident, with no ill intention.
“It was just a freak accident, there was no malice,” he said.
Taylor remained on the field for over an hour, as club trainers and then paramedics worked to stabilise his leg for travel.
“They didn’t want to move him until he was stable,” Giddings said.
“His tibia, the main bone, was snapped in two places and his other one was snapped in one, so it wasn’t just a broken leg.
“The poor fella was in a lot of pain.”
Taylor had surgery on Sunday, which Giddings said went very well.
It was a day full of injuries for West, with an ambulance already available after two incidents in the B Grade game.
“We had an ambulance in the area because we had two shoulder dislocations in the Reserves, so the Millicent ambulance was there,” Giddings said.
“They were dealing with three patients at once.
“They were insanely busy and they were outstanding.”
Giddings also gave credit to the Millicent Football and Netball Club, which he said was “fantastic” throughout the whole situation.
“The one thing I would really like to say is Millicent were outstanding,” Giddings said.
“(Nathan’s) best interests were the only thing anyone cared about and football came a long-way second.
“The ambulance was fantastic, our trainers were outstanding and so were the Millicent trainers who assisted.
“To me that is what community football is about, these people are volunteers and they were outstanding.”
Due to the circumstances the match was registered as a draw, which has bumped West up to third place on the ladder, following North’s loss to South.
