AFL star with suspected broken ribs is taken to hospital in a TAXI

‘I bet he had to fork out ten bucks at the end’: Outrage as AFL star suffering suspected broken ribs is sent to hospital in a TAXI booked by his club

  • Matt Guelfi reportedly suffered broken ribs during a game against West Coast
  • The midfielder was rammed into the fence by Jeremy McGovern in first quarter
  • Sources say the 21-year-old may have also gone through a concussion test
  • Essendon was slammed after the Bombers star was taken to hospital in a taxi  

The decision to send an injured AFL star to hospital in a taxi instead of an ambulance has outraged commentators and footy fans.

Essendon Bombers midfielder Matt Guelfi’s game was cut short on Thursday night after he was hit by Jeremy McGovern in the first quarter at Perth’s Optus stadium. 

The 21-year-old suffered suspected broken ribs after flying into a security guard’s plastic chair and then sliding into a metal fence. 

After hobbling off the field for a concussion test with the help of his team’s medical staff, vision emerged of the young player hopping into a cab booked by Essendon.  

Guelfi’s game was cut short on Thursday night after he was rammed into the fence by Jeremy McGovern in the first quarter at Perth’s Optus stadium

But the 21-year-old was transported to hospital in a cab arranged by Essendon, which former Collingwood and Richmond forward Brian Taylor described as 'unusual'

But the 21-year-old was transported to hospital in a cab arranged by Essendon, which former Collingwood and Richmond forward Brian Taylor described as ‘unusual’

Channel 7 commentators Brian Taylor and Wayne Carey slammed the bizarre decision to avoid paying for an ambulance. 

‘It is a billion-dollar business we’re in. It’s a multibillion-dollar business,’ Taylor said.

‘They’ve just built a billion-dollar stadium, state of the art.

‘We’ve got a player that’s injured and requires hospital attention. And he gets carted off in a crown cab.

‘Not even a silver luxury. Not even a nice one. An old beat-up Hyundai. I would bet that he had to fork out the 10 bucks at the other end. It’s just not good enough.’ 

North Melbourne legend Wayne Carey agreed Essendon’s arrangement ‘didn’t look right’. 

But Essendon football boss Dan Richardson was not bothered by the club’s transport arrangement, saying ‘it’s not like an emergency’.

‘His mum and dad being from Perth, they’re over here and are within at the moment as is our welfare manager,’ Richardson told Channel 7.

‘He’s pretty sore through the ribs and abdominal area, so we’ve just sent him off to hospital to get checked out.’ 

Bombers midfielder Matt Guelfi was taken to hospital in a taxi after he reportedly suffered from broken ribs during a game against the West Coast Eagles

Bombers midfielder Matt Guelfi was taken to hospital in a taxi after he reportedly suffered from broken ribs during a game against the West Coast Eagles

Footy fans watching at home were also unimpressed by the decision to send Guelfi to hospital in a taxi. 

One tweeted: ‘Guelfi being sent to hospital for scans in a dirty cab. The driver look at Guelfi & asks him for directions. Absolute amateur hour in Perth.’

‘Guelfi getting into a taxi? No Ambulance? Weird,’ added another. 

Centre halfback McGovern was reported by the umpire for pushing Guelfi in the opening quarter.

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