The 20-year-old is now staying at Ballarat’s Queen Elizabeth Rehabilitation Unit as he recovers from the spinal injury that leaves him without feeling below his waist, difficulty walking, memory loss and plenty of pain.

Dunne, who sustained the injury while playing with Dunnstown in the Central Highlands Football League, said he was now basically teaching himself how to walk again.

“Including a lot of stacks and a lot of falls, I’m getting there. It’s usually one stack to every three steps at the moment,” he said.

“I’ve just got to drum it into myself to walk again – teach my legs how to work.”

The apprentice electrician has been in care since the incident on May 10, but is confident he will eventually get back on his feet.

“(The doctors) are confident that I’ll walk – they are pretty confident about that – but the feeling side of things they are not too sure about. They seem to think that I will, but they are not giving any promises about that. But they reckon I will definitely walk,” he said.

“It’s very, very frustrating being in hospital. It’s like you forget how to live at home and a normal life.”

Dunne said he had been buoyed by spending time with a roommate, who has inspired him to beat his problems.

“I know the doctors haven’t given any time, but if they did I’d want to halve it. I’m a pretty determined fellow,” he said.

“I just want to shock people.

“I’m very confident. I’m always confident. I’ll definitely be up and about. It’s just a matter of when.”

A special appeal will take place for Dunne this Sunday at the Dunnstown Community Centre Hall from 1.30pm.

There will be guest speakers and video messages for the youngster, while a massive range of items will go under the hammer to raise money for the family.

And Dunne even plans a special appearance.

“I’m hoping to get to the appeal on Sunday. I’m not sure how long I’ll be there for. Even if I’m there for a few hours, it would be good. I know it’s going to be hard, but (I want) to try and get around and thank everyone that has helped out,” he said.