‘That is horrible, can’t bare to watch that. I think we’ve got it etched in our minds how bad that was.’

Aaron Naughton stretchered off after horror fall

(Source: 7Sport)

Western Bulldogs star Aaron Naughton appears to have escaped serious injury following a sickening fall late in the third quarter of a heavy 66-point loss to the Sydney Swans on Thursday night.

The key forward flew for a mark on a teammate’s stray set shot, reaching the ball first but falling over onrushing Swans defender Will Edwards to land hard on his head and neck.

Play was stopped immediately as medical staff rushed out to check on Naughton.

“That is a horrific landing. This was an extreme landing,” Brian Taylor said in commentary on Channel 7.

“That is horrible, can’t bear to watch that. That is just horrible. He will be lucky to escape damage here.

“We don’t need to see any more replays of that, I think we’ve got it etched in our minds how bad that was.”

The 26-year-old was lifted onto a stretcher and the medicab with a precautionary neck brace, offering a thumbs-up to supporters as he was taken away.

“Such relief for everyone, I’m sure family and friends all around the country were waiting for it,” Hamish McLachlan said.

Nick Riewoldt noted it appeared to be a good sign that Naughton was moving his legs, with Mitch Cleary later reporting a positive early outcome.

“It is great news. Their initial examination has them optimistic that Aaron has avoided any serious injuries,” he said during the fourth quarter.

“He’ll be reassessed over the coming days.

“They are confident at this point there is no signs of concussion and no visit to hospital tonight.”

Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge confirmed Naughton, who was up and walking around after the game, “appears to have strained” his neck and will undergo a precautionary scan on Friday.

Replays on the big screen had earlier sucked the air out of the stadium as fans realised just how severe Naughton’s fall looked.

Play resumed about 10 minutes after the incident — with a ball-up rather than a mark or free kick to the Bulldogs.

But Dogs captain Marcus Bontempelli quickly kicked a goal to lift the mood.

“We asked what do you say to the group after the Naughton injury. Sometimes it’s not what you say, it’s what you do,” Kane Cornes said.

“What about that inspiration from the greatest Bulldog of all time at a time his side desperately needed it on a special night for the club.”

The Bulldogs marked the Swans clash with a 10-year reunion of their AFL and VFL premiership teams.

As play continued, Riewoldt added: “You can’t say enough about the players, can you? They see an incident like that and the last two times it’s gone inside 50 there’s six blokes in the air competing, flying for the footy with no fear.”

Naughton’s fall was the second devastating incident for the Bulldogs in two weeks after Sam Darcy went down with an ACL tear in the big loss to Geelong.

Tom Liberatore (concussion), Rory Lobb (hamstring) and James O’Donnell (hamstring) were also hurt against the Cats to add to an injury list featuring Connor Budarick (hamstring), Tim English (knee) and Arty Jones (hamstring).

Speaking after the game, Dogs star Ed Richards said it was a “massive relief” to hear Naughton was OK.

“He was great tonight up until he got injured. He was starting to get us going there for a little bit,” the midfielder told Channel 7.

“It’s great to hear that we haven’t got a serious injury our belts — the one positive out of tonight.”

Swans stars Nick Blakey and Charlie Curnow also sent their best wishes to Naughton in his post-match interview.

Blakey said: “To Aaron Naughton, that was pretty scary so hope you’re alright, mate. You never like seeing one of the great players of the game go down like that so we’re thinking of you and hope you’re going alright.”

Told of Naughton’s condition, Curnow said: “All good? Alright, cool. So it was a good mark then — well done, mate (laughs).”

The Dogs have now suffered three straight defeats since starting their season 4-0 while Sydney (6-1) are top of the ladder — with Curnow on fire.

The star recruit bagged seven goals in a performance that Kane Cornes said Curnow “needed”.

“He’ll be feeling like he belongs now,” he said of the big forward.