Vic: Carlton player tells jury of injury

AAP General News (Australia)
08-24-2000
Vic: Carlton player tells jury of injury

A former Carlton footballer has told a jury that players and trainers were stamping
down parts of a football ground before he injured his knee in 1993.

One time Blues ruck rover and half-forward LUKE O'SULLIVAN, known as RHINO, has launched
damages action against the AFL and his old club.

It concerns a knee injury he sustained on a rough playing surface in a Fosters Cup
game at Waverley Park.

O'SULLIVAN told the Victorian County Court jury it had been a nightmare year after
the injury, and he'd had associated injuries since.

He said that on the night of the pre-season match between Carlton and Footscray there
were sand patches on the ground, and the turf was loose and had come up in places because
of player movement.

He said he saw players using their feet to stamp down parts of the ground.

Video footage of the game show trainers replacing pieces of turf on the ground.

O'SULLIVAN retired in 1997 and is claiming damages for loss of earnings, pain and loss
of enjoyment of life as a result of the injury.

The case before judge Anthony Smith is continuing.

aap RTV cmc/sp/jlw/wz/rt

KEYWORD: OSULLIVAN (MELBOURNE)

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