Jaws are dropping across the footy world over the wild heroics of St Kilda AFLW tall Clara Fitzpatrick.

The key position player on Sunday stole the show during St Kilda’s narrow loss to reigning premiers Adelaide when she produced an unforgettable act of courage.

The Gaelic football product needed to be stretchered off the ground after running back with the flight of the ball and launching into a marking contest.

The 30-year-old Irish player took heavy contact from two players at the front of a rushing pack.

The force of the hit knocked her off her feet, whiplashing her torso backwards before thumping into the turf on her back.

Fitzpatrick had a hold of the ball at the point of the collision and even juggled it on her way to the grass before the impact of hitting the deck knocked the ball loose.

Many commentators were adamant the mark attempt should have been paid — but most were more carried away by the staggeringly brave display.

Incredible courage from Clara Fitzpatrick in the #AFLWCrowsSaints game. Boy, girl, man, woman - you won’t see as raw an example of bravery than that this year. #AFLW — Andy Maher (@AndyMaherDFA) February 16, 2020

Fitzpatrick appeared groggy after the contest and was unable to get back to her feet.

St Kilda’s medical team was eventually able to carry her off the field after a delay of several minutes. The club told Channel 7 during the game on Sunday she was being treated for concussion.

St Kilda posted on social media on Monday that Fitzpatrick is recovering.

Clara Fitzpatrick is on the mend after being stretchered off the ground late in yesterday's match.



Get well soon, Clara! 😇 pic.twitter.com/6CkhJlyO6Z — St Kilda FCW (@stkildafcw) February 16, 2020

Her painful fourth quarter incident appeared to take the wind out of St Kilda’s sails as Adelaide came from behind to win the game by 13 points at Richmond Oval.

The Crows didn’t score until almost midway through Sunday’s second quarter but showed the characteristics of a champion side to snatch a victory to keep their premiership defence on track.

media_camera Clara Fitzpatrick of the Saints was stretchered off with concussion.

They did not lead until the last four minutes of the game, when Madison Newman steered through a goal from an angle.

First-gamer Caitlin Gould had levelled the scores moments earlier when she clung on to a huge pack mark and kicked her first AFLW goal. Forward Eloise Jones sealed the 6.4 (40) to 4.3 (27) win in front of 6433 fans with a goal on the siren.

Ebony Marinoff and Anne Hatchard were outstanding, while Courtney Gum showed her class in the second half to help turn the game.

The loss was tough on the Saints, who for much of their second game had looked on target to claim a historic first win.

St Kilda coach Peta Searle was disappointed but proud.

“Last week, I was disappointed and flat. I knew we were a better side than what we produced.

“I said to the girls they had to raise the bar after last week and they certainly did that. We showed when we play our way, we are a hard team to defend.” Crows premiership coach Matthew Clarke paid tribute to St Kilda. “I thought the Saints dictated the game in the first half and it was probably more credit to them than us doing anything particularly wrong ... the pleasing thing is we were able to respond.”

media_camera Clara Fitzpatrick landed hard.

Adelaide’s 2019 premiership flag was unfurled before the game but, in the first quarter, it looked like it was the Crows’ game which was unfurling. Without superstar co-captains Erin Phillips and Chelsea Randall, they looked fumbly and wasted plenty of the ball.

Phillips is on the comeback from the torn anterior cruciate ligament, while Randall is out for the year after tearing her ACL in pre-season training. The Crows, who failed to score in the first quarter of their opening-round loss to Brisbane, also didn’t get on the scoreboard in the opening term against St Kilda.

But, as Clarke said, “in the end, we got away with one”.

— with AAP

Originally published as ‘Insane courage’ stuns footy world