Former AFL player Rhys Palmer has reportedly been placed in an induced coma after a motorbike accident in Perth last night.
Palmer was returning home from a trip to the beach with his partner on the back when they were hit at an intersection.
Nine News Perth reports Palmer is fighting for his life at the intensive care unit of Royal Perth Hospital after requiring surgery.
MORE: Rhys Palmer looking at life ban after throwing shoes at harness race
Swans District Football Club, the club Palmer currently plays for, released a statement on his condition.
“It’s more positive than it was last night, but he still has a fair way to go,” the club’s football operations manager Phil Smart said.
“They (doctors) said he had been responsive to different things.”
The news comes a day after it was announced the 30-year-old is facing a life ban from racetracks after throwing his shoes at runners in a race at Gloucester Park trots on Friday night.
The former Docker, Giant and Blue was in attendance at the Perth track when he hurled his shoes towards the runners as they passed the post ahead of the final lap during the sixth race on the card.
Palmer released a statement on the incident, suggesting he did not deliberately throw a shoe at a horse.
“No shoe was deliberately thrown at a horse during any race and I have the utmost respect for the racing community and all those involved,” he wrote.
“It was simply unfortunate timing. I was having a light hearted wrestle with a young teammate, oblivious to what was happening around us.
“What transpired was a shoe being thrown which unbeknown to us was unfortunately at the same time the horses had made their way around the course.”
2008 NAB rising star winner Rhys Palmer is likely to face a life ban from racetracks after he threw his shoes onto the track during Race 6 at Gloucester Park.
— Nick Quinn (@Quinny_1) March 15, 2019
Fortunately, no horses or drivers were injured. pic.twitter.com/tn8wvXkute
Palmer played 123 AFL games since being selected by Fremantle with the seventh pick in 2007 draft.
He claimed the 2008 Rising Star award before missing the following season with a knee injury.
In 2011 he joined GWS ahead of their inaugural season, playing 69 games before moving to Carlton ahead of 2017, playing one game for the Blues.
