Television superstar Dave Hughes was hastily disposed of the caravan’s casualties. This was the case recently during a Legends Game, played exclusively by retired athletes, at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium. The event set a new record of more than 30,000 spectators and raised almost $1 million for the Australian Prostate Centre. For Hughes—it became a horrible experience, resulting in five broken ribs and a punctured lung.
Injuries happened in the opening minutes of the game as Hughes was coming down on a flurry of impressive, but violent, collisions defensively. One significant incident involved Dan Gorringe, who flattened Hughes during the game, marking the beginning of a painful ordeal for the beloved entertainer. With those injuries, Hughes played through the pain and made it to the after-party that night as well.
Hughes gave a harrowing account of the moment he was injured, as he remembered how he initially thought he only sustained a little sting. “At half-time, I was coming off the ground and I was like, ‘I feel like I have a punctured lung,’ and I was joking, but no, I do,” he stated. On-the-field persistence became a hallmark of Smoky’s determined approach, a testament to his love for the game and respect for teammates.
It was not until Hughes returned home around 2 am that he realized the seriousness of his condition. He was still feeling poorly, and he found himself at a health center early that morning. He expressed his concerns over his health throughout the season. At that stage he remembers asking himself, “Am I going to die out here? This tragic reality highlights the immense physical costs that are sometimes paid during competitive charitable events.
During the match, Hughes faced several flashpoints, including a shove from Mitch Robinson that left him struggling to regain his composure. After kicking the opening goal of the match on a run, Hughes came crashing down under a brutal tackle from Robinson, adding to his physical woes. Andrew Embley tomahawked him, leaving him concussed and incapacitated for the rest of the match. Embley knocked him from the side immediately after Hughes spilled a chest mark.
After the game, Embley personally contacted Hughes to express remorse for his actions during the event. “I just want to say that I am so sorry for my little thump on you last night that has obviously caused so much damage,” Embley said, acknowledging the seriousness of Hughes’s injuries. He was completely on board with Hughes’s courage to keep playing through the pain, telling him, “You are in such pain it’s visible. As sturdy as you are, tough guy, for not giving up on the videogame. I’m here for you.”
After the game, Hughes was understandably conflicted when looking back on his performance. “There are some moments I would like to take back …,” he remarked, indicating that while he enjoyed participating in such events for a good cause, he recognizes the potential for injury in these competitive environments.
The Legends Game showcased not only the talent of its participants but their dedication to raising funds for important health initiatives. Even in the face of his grave injuries, Hughes’s sense of humor, wonder and determination were evident as he engaged with fans and players alike.
