Footy family rallies behind young star

LOCAL and AFL football clubs are rallying behind a fundraising effort to help a Tasmanian footballer who is on life support in the Royal Hobart Hospital after suffering a serious head injury during a game.

Devonport Football Club player Ethan Stephenson was severely injured in a North West Football League game against Ulverstone on Saturday.

The 19-year-old had surgery for a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain in the Royal Hobart Hospital on Saturday night and is in a medically induced coma.

His family is by his side in Hobart and Devonport Football Club president Geoff Walker called into the RHH yesterday to offer his support.

“It is a really unfortunate situation. Ethan is in ICU and not taking visitors but I wanted the family to know the football club is here for them in this very difficult time,” he said.

Friends of Ethan’s family, which hails from Latrobe, have described the young player as a talented sportsman and a “bloody good kid.”

Family friend Julie Bissett said Devonport Football Club, his former club Latrobe and the whole community were supporting his recovery.

Ethan’s cousin Taegan Westin also approached the Hawthorn Football Club for support for the up-and-coming player and was rewarded for her efforts.

The club advised her it would donate a signed Hawthorn guernsey which will be auctioned off at a fundraiser being organised by Ms Bissett.

Former Devonport football great Matthew Richardson added his voice to the support campaign, sending a tweet asking anyone able to help to do so.

Ms Bissett said the family was overwhelmed by the support Ethan’s situation had generated.

“His mum Kylie is totally gobsmacked at the support she and her husband Mathew have received from their community, family and friends,” Ms Bissett said yesterday.

“Ethan had a stable night and they are about to chat with the medical team.”

A GoFundMe campaign set up on Wednesday morning has already raised more than $15,900. Another $2000 is coming from the Battlescars Foundation, based in Devonport, and the funds raised through the Hawks guernsey will boost the total.

The money raised will help pay for the family’s accommodation costs while Ethan is in hospital in Hobart.

Ms Bissett said the Latrobe community — which was battered by floods in 2015 — looked after its own and the town’s community spirit was again shining through.

“We all have hope. You have to,” Ms Bissett said.

“I have watched Ethan grow up from a snotty-nosed kid to a man. If the bloke upstairs is listening, he will recover from this and be back on the field soon,” she said.

Ethan Stephenson is the son of Latrobe Football Club life member Matthew Stephenson and has played in Devonport’s NWFL and State League sides this season.

He has also represented Tasmania at an under-16 and under-18 level.