Play was stopped in the opening quarter for almost 40 minutes while trainers and paramedics tended to injured Darley player Adam Azzopardi at Mars Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

It's believed Azzopardi, 19, suffered a compound leg fracture when a teammate was pushed from a marking contest and landed horizontally on the fast oncoming Azzopardi's ankle, trapping it, while Azzopardi's full momentum carried him over the top of his teammate.

Trainers from both clubs looked after Azzopardi for around 20 minutes before paramedics later tended to him on the ground for another 10 minutes before he was loaded into an ambulance.

An Ambulance Victoria spokesperson confirmed the player was taken to St John of God Ballarat Hospital with a leg injury. He is in a stable condition.

The incident occurred 16 minutes into the first quarter, with the umpires directing both teams to leave the field while trainers stayed with Azzopardi until the ambulance arrived.

Play re-started with 52 minutes, 22 seconds on the clock in the first quarter.

Darley kicked the first three goals straight when play resumed. This includes one major from Azzopardi's brother Andrew.

North Ballarat went on to win the game 16.11 (107) to 5.8 (38).

Darley next plays Melton South, while the Roosters have the bye.

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