Sport
14 May, 2026
CALLING TIME: Two injuries lead to two retirements
The shock news came after key defender and former best and fairest winner Cody Stobaus was ruled out for the rest of the season after fracturing his ankle against Macorna in round four.
TWO INGLEWOOD senior players have been forced into immediate retirement after suffering recent head injuries.
The shock news came after key defender and former best and fairest winner Cody Stobaus was ruled out for the rest of the season after fracturing his ankle against Macorna in round four.
Beppe Daly and Curtis Day, both also backline players for the Woodies, have quit the game because of concussion concerns.
Coach Jackson Hood said Day, who joined the club from De La Salle this season, had suffered several head knocks over his career and decided it was time to retire. Daly, whose father is a doctor, was concussed against Mitiamo on Saturday and has also prioritised his future health over his football career after joining Inglewood from Old Carey this year.
Hood said Stobaus’ return next season was no certainty, given the severity of his injury and having a young family.
Stobaus lay on the field screaming in pain after his horrific injury against the Tigers, and he is now awaiting surgery on his right ankle.
The losses are a huge blow to the Woodies, whose season has turned around in the last two weeks with wins over Macorna and Mitiamo after a tough first three rounds.
Inglewood’s fixture saw them meet perennial finalists Pyramid Hill, four-time reigning premiers Marong, and last season’s runners up Bridgewater to open the season.
A similar tough start in 2025 ended with a stirring run to the preliminary final in the Woodies’ best result for more than 20 years.
The defensive carnage will be eased late this week when Inglewood announces a new signing who Hood described as like-for-like with Daly.
The Woodies have also addressed their tall forward issues with the signing of Daniel Godden, who kicked a goal on debut against Mitiamo after transferring from Old Carey.
Hood said he could also play in defence or as a tall midfielder but given the team’s lack of height in the forward 50, he would play in attack.
Inglewood’s match with the Superoos was dramatic in more ways than one, with the game abandoned in the third quarter after a feared to be a serious neck injury.
Read More: Inglewood