'Frightening': Fans rocked by sickening AFL finals moment
Port Adelaide young gun Xavier Duursma has been praised for his bravery after a sickening incident in his side's qualifying final win against Geelong on Thursday night.
The Power are now just two wins from capturing the club's second flag after downing the Cats by 14 points at Adelaide Oval.
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Port's impressive win came at a cost, however, with injury concerns to Xavier Duursma and Todd Marshall.
Marshall hurt a shoulder in the 9.4 (58) to 5.12 (42) win but it was a concussion to Duursma that had fans fearing for the 20-year-old's health.
Duursma was knocked out cold in a horror accident while contesting a mark against Geelong's Mark Blicavs.
The youngster only had eyes for the footy as he and Blicavs collided in mid-air, before the Duursma's head landed heavily onto the turf.
Duursma also appeared to cop an accidental elbow as Blicavs landed on top of him, which only amplified the nasty blow.
Trainers rushed on the ground to attend to the Power star as he lay on the ground, before helping him from the field.
He took no further part in the contest.
The frightening incident left fans in shock on social media, with many praising Duursma's incredible bravery.
Xavier Duursma is tough 👏
Hope he is okay. pic.twitter.com/cC14AE5qEZ— 7AFL (@7AFL) October 1, 2020
"He’s as hard as nails. He never stops jumping for the ball in the contest. He’s so courageous. He looks like he is okay. He’s having a chat to the boys now. But you never want to see a player like that down on the ground.” Brad Ebert on Xavier Duursma #AFLFinals #AFLPowerCats
— ABC Grandstand (@abcgrandstand) October 1, 2020
Xavier Duursma you have great courage on the field and I love that about him. Seeing that made me tear up. I hope he will be ok and can come back out. He is missed out there already. Who is that Geelong player I want to fight. Stay strong 💙 @PAFC #AFLPORTCATS
— 𝓡𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓮𝓢𝓮𝓻𝓰𝓲🌸 (@ReneeSergi) October 1, 2020
@afl @PAFC I'm glad to see him sitting out the rest of the game. That was a frightening hit.
— Pivot swan (@pivotubi) October 1, 2020
xavier duursma 🏹😞 hope he is ok . Don’t wish a KO. On anyone.
— Lisa 🇦🇺 (@Leese12) October 1, 2020
What Xavier Duursma did with his chase down tackle on Henry for a goal in the third quarter then getting KO’d going back with the flight was what Port Adelaide was all about tonight.
📸 @SarahReed pic.twitter.com/6xuQXlBm81— Reece Homfray (@reecehomfray) October 1, 2020
God hope duursma is okay #AFLPowerCats
— Kate #BLM (@KJ99KJ99) October 1, 2020
Coach says Port can win the flag
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley also commended Duursma's courage after the match and said his team is good enough to claim the AFL premiership.
Hinkley says the stirring win over Geelong won't overly alter the confidence of his squad.
"I don't think it will change too much because I think they had strong belief," he said.
"We had strong belief at the start of the year, right through.
"We have had great belief in each other and we just knew that sticking together was going to be really important.
"It has been a challenging season so far, still with bigger challenges to come we hope.
"But they just stuck together at it. We don't not believe, we do believe.
"We believe in us. We believe in us as a football club. We believe in us as a community.
"We know we're good enough."
While Duursma will no doubt be monitored for any concussion-related side-effects from his collision, the prognosis appears to be better for Marshall.
The Port full-forward left the field just 10 minutes into the game after landing heavily on his right shoulder.
He missed the rest of the first term but returned to the fray with the shoulder strapped.
with AAP
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