Melton, Darley play out 80-minute first quarter after serious injury

Play was suspended for nearly an hour in the first term of the Bloods' 34-point win against Darley to allow the Melton player to receive treatment and be transported by paramedics.

Ambulance Victoria was notified of the incident at 6.38pm after the player, a man in his 20's suffered a knock to the head.

The Courier has chosen not to name the injured player.

An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said paramedics arrived at the ground and noted a loss of sensation in the downed player and suspecting neck injuries, he was spinally immobilised as a precaution and the air ambulance was called.

As a further precaution he could not be moved from the ground while he was put onto a spinal board.

The player was later transported by road at 7.11pm to the Royal Melbourne Hospital for further treatment.

Coach Tymms said the extent of the player's injury was not known and admired his group's response.

"For the boys to step up and still be able to play under that duress was a real credit to them," he told The Courier.

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"They showed some real character, to be honest. The boys did well to respond and continue on."

The Bloods enjoyed a three-goal lead at the first break before Darley clawed back to be within a point heading into half-time.

"We just went away from our game plan in the first half," Tymms said.

"We played a bit of kamikaze footy and weren't playing to our structures.

"We just went back to the basics (in the second half) and what we've been learning. It worked for us."

The Bloods kept the hosts scoreless in the third quarter and piled on two majors themselves.

It was a similar story in the final term; Darley managing just three behinds as the visitors drew away to a 10.11 (71) to 5.7 (37) win.

Melton remains top-of-the-table and welcomes East Point in round five. Darley, meanwhile, will be searching for a first win against Ballarat.

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