At 24, Neil Sachse was an Aussie Rules star on the rise. The burly South Australian had torn through the ranks to become the most sought-after player in the country. Then, in only his second game in the top flight, playing for Footscray, a front-on collsion left Neil a quadriplegic. In a single moment, an explosive career was cut short.
It remains the most catastrophic injury to any player in the history of the VFL/AFL competition. However, it’s not the injury, but what Neil went on to achieve that has come to define him. A passionate advocate for disability care and injury prevention in sport, Neil has raised millions for medical research through the Neil Sachse Foundation, and been a mentor to countless injured athletes.
