A Horsham Saints Under 17 player was taken by air ambulance to Royal Melbourne Hospital on Saturday, following a head knock at Jeparit.

The 16-year-old sustained a serious head injury after being tackled in the fourth quarter of the match against Southern Mallee Thunder in the Wimmera league.

The player is expected to return home to Horsham this week – he became fully alert and regained full feeling on Sunday.

Doctor-in-training Harry McLeod and paramedic Renae Clugston from Southern Mallee Thunder, and ICU nurse Verity Fereday as well as nurse Kristy Stewart and Jodie Henry, from the Saints, were at the game and assisted the player until paramedics arrived. 

Saints president Sally Ison said the player was taken by road ambulance from Jeparit to Horsham, where he was taken by an Air Ambulance Victoria helicopter to Essendon Airport due to the helicopter not being able to land at the Royal Children’s Hospital for weather reasons.

Mrs Ison thanked the volunteers and paramedics who helped the player following the incident.

“Without the volunteer emergency people we did have there on site, it could have gone in a completely different direction,” she said.

“But once the ambos come and the MICA unit, they just took over, and they were especially fantastic.

“It shows in the country it doesn’t matter which side you are on you jump in an help without hesitation.”

The entire July 15, 2026 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!