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EAST Warrnambool senior football coach Danny Chatfield is now in a stable condition in a Melbourne hosptial after an on-field incident.
Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullins said Chatfield was taken by road ambulance to Warrnambool Base Hospital and was then airlifted to the Royal Melbourne Hospital in a critical condition with head injuries.
"They arrived there into triage at 8.30pm on Saturday night," Mr Mullins said.
A Royal Melbourne Hospital spokeswoman said Chatfield's condition had improved overnight on Saturday.
"He is now in a stable condition," she said.
LAST NIGHT:
EAST Warrnambool Football Netball Club is rallying around its senior coach after he was seriously injured in a Warrnambool and District league match on Saturday.
Bombers mentor Danny Chatfield was flown to Melbourne in an air ambulance after suffering a fractured skull and bleed on the brain during an on-field contest.
East Warrnambool president and close friend Allan Miller said the incident happened in the first quarter of the Bombers' match against Old Collegians at Reid Oval.
"He's been airlifted to Melbourne with a fractured skull and bleed on his brain," he said.
"I have spoken to the family and they are happy for people to know that.
"I guess from an incident point of view we are not surprised - Danny puts his head over the ball and plays hard but fair each week.
"Unfortunately this was a result of another one of those incidents where he did put his head over the ball."
Miller praised Old Collegians for their "support and gestures".
"It was a fair incident and our thoughts and concerns are with Danny but also our thoughts and concerns are with the young player from Old Collegians who was also putting his head over the ball and committing to the contest," he said.
"It puts a bit of perspective on the game. We work hard to put teams on the football field and netball court but at the end of the day it is just a game."
Miller said the incident had rattled East Warrnambool's players and supporters.
"Danny is the leader of our club. It's very disheartening, sad, all of them emotions rolled into one, to see that happen," he said.
"I am sure he'll bounce back from this. He's a strong character."
Miller said the incident had "shaken me pretty badly to be honest".
"I am pretty close to him outside of football as well," he said.
"My messaging to the playing group after the game was 'stick together, support each other through the difficult times'.
"He's got some direct family members who play in our team but collaboratively we're all one big, broader family as well."
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