When Western Bulldogs premiership player Liam Picken went to ground during Saturday’s game with Fremantle in Western Australia, many-a-fan could be seen grimacing throughout the stadium.
Body-on-body clashes are nothing new, but repetition doesn’t take the sting out of watching someone get knocked out live in action.
No-one was more concerned, however, than Picken’s own family watching the match on TV at home in Melbourne.
This was the clash they had to endure some 3,000 kilometres away.
Picken’s wife, Annie Nolan, sat at home with her three children watching as her husband lay eerily still on the ground’s grass, lifeless if not for his arms falling by his side.
In taking a photo of her oldest child’s response to his dad’s clash, Nolan showed the world a side to sport we very rarely see.
“This pic [sic] is one of a thousand reasons why this is more than a game to us. Knocks to the head will always be my most hated part of this sport,” she wrote.
Top Comments
Really? A little over the top in my opinion.
People all over Australia are injured playing AFL every weekend. The only difference being this professional AFL player will have access to the best medical, physio and/or other treatments to assist him recover while being paid a handsome sum of money to practice his craft.
He won't lose income for taking time away from work like many an amateur footy player who suffered a similar injury this weekend.
There were likely dozens of kids sobbing on the sidelines seeing their daddies get hurt playing footy too - their mummies just doesn't happen to be WAGs with a blog or Instagram following.... sorry if that makes me seem harsh, but don't expect me to weep for AFL players or their families who live off their very generous salaries!