Tigers kick goals at Ivanhoe

07 Aug 2003

Media Release - 7 August 2003

Richmond footballers, Tim Fleming and Billy Nicholls will today visit the Acquired Brain Injury Unit of Ivanhoe Private Hospital, in a bid to inspire car crash survivors to persist with their rehabilitation.

The visit is part of the TAC's community partnership with Richmond Football Club and the players say that it is also a good opportunity for them to gain an understanding of the long-term implications of road trauma.

"Being footballers we have a pretty good understanding of injuries on the field and how hard it is to get back your form after an injury, but having the opportunity to meet these guys is something else," Tim Fleming said.

"They are really brave and you can only imagine what it's like getting your life back on track when you have a head injury."

Both players have been recruited to the club this season and this is their first visit to the hospital that cares for some of the most severely injured car crash victims in the state.

The TAC currently manages the claims of 1,442 people who have an acquired brain injury.

Billy Nicholls said that his injuries last season were minor compared to the survivors of road trauma.

"I missed 11 games last year because of injury. That was devastating at the time but this sort of thing certainly gives you a different perspective."

In 2002, 397 people died on Victorian roads and 6,871 people suffered serious injury.

Victoria's road toll currently stands at 214 compared with 249 at the same time last year, a decrease of 14%.

Further information:

Georgina Lyell
Tel: 9664 6591