Teen AFL player in coma after violent grand final brawl in Adelaide

A 17-year-old was flown to hospital in a critical condition following a violent brawl at a grand final game in Adelaide on Saturday.

The incident occurred during the under-17s grand final between Angle Vale and Two Wells at the Hamley Bridge Oval, 9News reported.

Just before halftime, the match got out of control, with players engaging in a violent brawl on the field.

“It was pretty aggressive,” spectator Jack Martin told 9News. “A lot of push and shove, a couple of punches thrown from what I seen.”

Henry Nau was hit and came off the ground before collapsing unconscious.

“He was very dazed out and then I’m not sure, I think he collapsed afterwards,” one Angle Vale player told the broadcaster.

The game was stopped for nearly an hour as an ambulance was called, then specialist paramedics and then an emergency Medstar helicopter.

He was flown to hospital and placed in an induced coma.

“It looked pretty serious,” a Two Wells player said.

“They had the covers over the top of him and everything so no one else could see him.”

Officials are still trying to determine the cause of his injury.

“At this stage we don’t whether it was a hit or accidental, we’re not sure,” Adelaide Plains Football Club president Michael Vigor said.

A number of yellow and red cards had been issued throughout the match.

“We don’t condone violence,” another Two Wells player said.

“Like we can understand the feeling in the game, Grand Final, everyone wants to win, but it’s just that little bit from going over the top sometimes where you’ve got to settle a little bit down.”

Some team members said they believed Mr Nau suffered another head knock earlier in the game.

“The first quarter incident, I can’t believe they let him back on,” one said.

“I’m unsure why they let him back on after that incident, especially with the higher-up league’s [rule].”

Mr Nau remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Friends of his family told 9News his CT scans were looking positive.

The league is waiting on a formal report from Angle Vale before it pursues an investigation.