Horsham Demon Jordyn Burke is awaiting further scans for potential nerve or muscle damage after an incident in the match against Horsham Saints on Sunday.
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Burke was initially cleared of spine or neck damage after a CT scan at the Wimmera Base Hospital on Sunday night, but was awaiting the results of an MRI on Monday afternoon.
Burke had his head over the football midway through the second quarter of the Wimmera league encounter, when the hip of his Saints opponent Thomas McDonald struck him.
Trainers immediately immobilised Burke, putting him into a precautionary neck brace and stretchering him from the field.
Burke's father, Brian Burke, said Jordyn was in good spirits on Monday afternoon.
"He's just taking it easy for the moment until the results are back," Brian Burke said.
"The CT scans they took last night showed nothing bad, which is good news. If we get the same from the MRI then he'll be right to go home.
"He's been in a bit of discomfort last night ... so we're just waiting on those scans to see if there is any muscular or nerve damage.
"Best case scenario he'll be cleared of anything serious."
Jordyn Burke told the Mail-Times on Monday morning he was trying to get some much-needed rest.
After the incident, both sides agreed to call an early half-time, allowing trainers and paramedics to treat Burke.
The fourth quarter was extended to 25 minutes, plus time on, to make up for the loss of playing time.
AFL Victoria rules state if the match was paused for more than 30 minutes in the middle of a quarter, the game would be called off and declared a draw.
The Saints went on to win the match by seven points.
Saints coach Luke Fisher applauded Horsham for agreeing to call half-time early, and electing to play the match out - rather than settling for a draw.
"We had to make the call for half-time to come early, because the game would have been called off if it went past that 30 minutes of downtime," Fisher said.
"That worked in our favour, because we really had to win this game. Horsham were happy to play for the win as well and credit to them - they could have easily said they would wait the 30 minutes for the draw. We were up (by a goal) at the time, so it was good of them to do that."
Horsham co-coach Tim Wade said playing out the match was definitely the team's first inclination.
"We just wanted to play the game out, 100 per cent," Wade said.
"That's what it's all about - you want to go out and play a full game, so that was the decision.
"It's really disappointing to lose Jordy. We hope he's alright."
AFL Wimmera Mallee's Stephen McQueen said umpires had not made any reports in relation to the incident.
Richard Crabtree
richard.crabtree@austcommunitymedia.com.au
richard.crabtree@austcommunitymedia.com.au
