What really sets AFL players apart in terms of courage on the global sporting sphere is their propensity to bounce back up and keep going.
The macho motto of getting back up and brushing it up is paramount on a footy field – there’s nothing that running it off can’t fix.
Through this shared trait of bravery, here are some ridiculous stories about particular players who didn’t just stand back up after serious injuries, but bravely – or stupidly, you pick – played on to write themselves into footy folklore.
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10. two digits down – harry lever (1907)
The VFL kicked off in an era where footy was a breeding ground for tough young men to display their talents.
A sport primarily started to maintain the fitness of cricketers over the winter (now they just refer to the practice of binge drinking and couch analysis), the first great moment of playing through sickening injuries came in the form of St Kilda’s Harry Lever.
In the midst of a 15-year career that was interrupted by war, Lever suffered a horrific work place injury with a bandsaw in 1907.
Occurring on the Saturday morning before a match, Lever did the smart thing: he patched it up himself and took to the field that afternoon.
Embracing the dour toughness of a full back who would go on to set the club’s games record for over half a century, the peak of Lever’s footy career has to be that injury.
He may have permanently lost two digits, but the wild decision to play on in the same day immortalises him on this list.
9. Playing through a pop – Jack Graham (2019)
He had the wrong shoulder taped up.
Desperately lunging to tackle Tom Atkins in the 2019 Preliminary Final, Graham’s right shoulder popped right out of its socket. Immediately lurching to the bench with a hunch more severe than that of a famous Notre Dame custodian, Graham looked to be out of the game early.
But within minutes, his shoulder was back in its upright position and he was back out on the ground with the Chris Judd shoulder tape in full effect.
On a tough night for the Richmond juggernaut, Graham was influential in the comeback win. Unfortunately, playing through the pain of a serious injury ruined his chances of a second Premiership medallion.
We know what happens next with one Marlion Pickett debuting in his place, but Graham deserves recognition for his selflessness and bravery under heavy duress.
8. Two different ribs, two great stories – Nigel Lappin (2003) and Robert DiPierdomenico (1989)
Thankfully, both of these stories resulted in no casualties and two Premierships.
The 1989 Grand Final is known as a bloodbath, and the broken ribs of Dipper is only the first instance to appear on this list.
The Hawthorn champion seemed a fortress; unable to be maimed or brought down. That is, until he bravely went back with the flight in front of Gary Ablett, and had his exposed ribs smashed.
Begging for breath on the MCG turf, he would famously bounce back up and play on with a high-pitched voice to help his Hawks secure a second consecutive flag.
Dipper's celebrations would take place in hospital after the severity of his injury was made clear when he collapsed moments after the final siren. It’s not quite where AFL parties take place, but it’s undoubtedly where some end up.
Nigel Lappin had a similar experience.
His kamikaze fly for a mark in the 2003 prelim saw his ribs snap too, and he faced an uphill battle to play in the decider.
The Brisbane camp looked to keep the prognosis quiet. That is, until Jason Akermanis absent-mindedly let the cat out of the bag mid-week.
A custom guard was made for Lappin, and it did the trick as he took part in a third consecutive flag for the Brisbane powerhouse.
7. A fractured heel and a destroyed ankle – Anthony Stevens (1999)
1999 was a time where the Shinboner spirit was the revered culture of a footy club. North Melbourne were a highly successful side, and Anthony Stevens was one of their heroes.
Then, in the 1999 prelim final, he landed awkwardly taking a mark back with the flight. All of the ligaments in his ankle were torn, and his heel fractured. As rare an injury as you can find in AFL football, Stevens’ prognosis was a 14-16 week stint on the sidelines.
But the Kangaroos had a Grand Final to play. In a remarkable effort, he fulfilled coach Denis Pagan’s request and trained for just 10 minutes during the week to prove his fitness. Then, against all odds, he took to the field.
Injury wouldn’t continually avoid him. He ripped his pectoral muscle off the bone mid-match, and that would end his Grand Final. He received just compensation when a Premiership medal was draped around his neck just hours later.
6. Lenny on one leg battles on – Lenny Hayes (2006)
Lenny is known for many courageous moments.
His wounded and battered body willing the Saints back into the 2010 Grand Final, and the Norm Smith Medal he received for his efforts is one; his return from injury to lay brutal tackles and kick breathtaking sidestepping goals against Melbourne another.
But playing through a full game with an ACL injury is something else.
In 2006, Hayes ruptured his ACL early on in a contest against North Melbourne. Instead of heading straight off and immediately planning surgery dates and rehab plans, Hayes stayed on the field, and played out the entirety of the match.
On just one leg, Hayes continued to put in a wonderful performance.
In a career highlighted by his toughness, that one day in 2006 proved his bravery and durability.
5. Bourke’s broken leg – Francis Bourke (1971)
‘St. Francis’ Bourke is a Richmond legend.
Five Premierships, over 300 games and a spot in the AFL Hall of Fame – he is a football icon.
What he was known for was his ability to play through pain. In the 1973 Grand Final he went to the backline despite a serious knee injury, and stamped out the great Alex Jesaulenko in a remarkable flag win.
However, his craziest moment came two years earlier, where he broke his leg yet continued to play the match.
He was still able to walk off the ground at the game’s conclusion and would go on to miss the next nine weeks.
Now that’s tough (or downright foolish, your call).
4. Danger to full forward – patrick dangerfield (2017)
Patrick Dangerfield’s 2017 year was crowned by a breakaway Brownlow Medal and a season of utter dominance. He was lauded far and wide as the most damaging mid in the competition.
His best moment came against the old enemy, Hawthorn. In a perennial match-up headlined by the Kennett Curse and some tensions between two superstar sides, Dangerfield went down early in the first quarter with a serious-looking foot injury.
Instead of sitting out the game, he pushed forward, booting five goals and six behinds to lead Geelong to a tight victory.
Snatching the three Brownlow votes despite being clearly hampered, his dominance down forward proved to be a heroic effort that beggars belief.
3. Goodes boots the winner with a dodgy knee – adam goodes (2012)
Adam Goodes will go down as close to the most famous Swan to ever pull on the jumper.
He’s delivered Brownlow Medals and two Premierships. His crazy tale with injury came in the second of those flags.
Hawthorn were the best side throughout 2012. But on Grand Final day, a seasoned Sydney side brought their A-game and took the contest down to the wire.
Needing someone to stand up, Goodes crumbed a pack to perfection to bounce through a sickening blow for Hawks fans. The goal would deliver Sydney a tight win.
What adds to this goal even more was that Goodes was playing through a ruptured PCL from early on in the match. Virtually on one leg, Goodes played through the pain and stood tall to kick a telling goal late into the last quarter.
Spine-tingling stuff.
2. dale's broken back reels in Buddy – dale morris (2016)
Everything about that 2016 Premiership was ridiculous by the Western Bulldogs.
Making a charge from seventh spot, the defiant Dogs pulled out a month of scintillating footy to claim a drought-breaking Premiership win.
And the valiant effort by veteran defender Dale Morris is a major reason why.
Playing with a fractured vertebrae (or in simple terms, a broken freaking back), Morris played on the game’s best forward in Buddy Franklin. With the match in the balance late in the last quarter, Morris lunged to track down Buddy in the centre square and caught him cold in a fierce tackle.
The Sherrin spilled out to Tom Boyd, and his monster bomb provided a snapshot moment for an amazing Grand Final win (enhanced further by Brian Taylor's golden commentary).
What means the most is Morris in the background, defying all odds with one of the most nasty and dangerous injuries ever to deliver an emotional flag to the Dogs.
1. A DAY OF PAIN, GOALS AND A FAMOUS FLAG – DERMOTT BRERETON (1989)
A lot of contemporary footy fans only know Dermott Brereton for his flashy pearly whites, pristine looks and the pretty-boy aura he exudes on Fox Footy.
A character born out of Hawthorn’s magical run of Premierships in the 1980s, Brereton showed he was as tough as footy players come in the early stages of the 1989 Grand Final.
Lined up and taken out by Mark Yeates in an act of retribution for an ugly balls-tampering incident some months prior, the star Hawk was down on the ground within seconds of the ball first being bounced.
Struggling with broken ribs and a lacerated kidney, Brereton refused to give up.
In a mind-blowing effort, the Kid remained on the field, moved deep into attack and went on to snag three incredible goals in the famous decider.
He was one of several injured Hawks to play on, with Robert DiPierdomenico, John Platten, Gary Ayres and Darren Pritchard all playing under serious duress.
But it was Brereton's courageous performance which has burned into the minds of footy fans, with his legendary performance capping off an incredible story of blood-spilling 1980s football.
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