On Saturday, November 23rd, an unimaginably painful incident happened on the football field involving my daughter, Tayla. During a Premier League game in the NTFL, she sustained a traumatic break to both her Tibia and Fibula, with the bones nearly breaking through the skin. Tayla lay on Gardens Oval for an excruciating hour, in extreme pain and beginning to go into shock. The heartbreaking ordeal was intensified by the fact that there was no pain medication available, and she couldn't be moved due to the seriousness of her injuries until an ambulance arrived. Once the St Johns medic arrived Tayla was finally given pain relief until the ambulance arrived and hour or so later.

Sadly I understand we aren't the first family to experience this but I'm  hoping my daughter will be the last. In light of this, we are calling on the AFL Northern Territory to institute a mandatory requirement to have adequately trained staff in immediate pain relief administration, applicable to all grounds. Physiologically, every minute of unaddressed excruciating pain can lead to the augmentation of the body's pain perception, further complicating injury recovery and potentially resulting in permanent psychological trauma (Source: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management). In addition, injury events lacking immediate medical attention can heighten the anxiety and fear experienced by people, reducing their confidence and mental well-being (Source: British Journal of Sports Medicine).

Our sport needs people equipped with the necessary training to respond to these harrowing situations. We believe our demand is reasonable and would contribute to creating a safer environment for all players and spectators. 

Please sign this petition and make a stand for immediate steps to prevent other players, young and old, and their families from having to experience such a traumatizing event.