Both leaders are heading towards the finish line of a six-week campaign, but the prime minister’s promise to stop being a bulldozer could have failed on Wednesday night as he attended junior football training in Tasmania’s northwest.
In Devonport, in the marginal seat of Braddon, Scott Morrison proved he remained a formidable force on the football field during an appearance to promise to improve the team’s facilities if the Coalition were re-elected.
An unsuspecting young child found himself in the premier’s path when the 54-year-old thought he had a chance to steal the ball from young members of the Devonport Strikers under-eights team.
Instead the ball was intercepted by Braddon MP Gavin Pearce, Mr Morrison fell on the child and the tackle allowed a young striker to score.
Mr Morrison expressed concern for his opponent following the incident on the field. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
The Prime Minister expressed concern for his opponent following the incident on the field.
“Where is Luca? I hope he’s not in the hospital!” » said Mr Morrison.
“I look forward to returning on another occasion.
“I think when this stand collapses, I hear it might take a bit of bulldozing to demolish it, so maybe I can help you,” he joked.
The fall occurred in front of the campaign cameras. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
Luca’s club, the Devonport Strikers, said he was feeling well after the match.
“We believe that Luca showed a lot of determination and effort to prevent the Prime Minister’s goal at all costs,” the club said on Facebook.
“The final star of the election is doing well and looking forward to being the star of the show at school tomorrow.”
Mr Morrison is far from the only leader to have found himself in a political misadventure on the sporting field.
Sports traps
Mr Morrison’s collision is reminiscent of that of then London Mayor Boris Johnson, who knocked down 10-year-old boy during touch rugby match in Tokyo.
Boris Johnson, then mayor of London, collides with 10-year-old Toki Sekiguchi during a street rugby match in Tokyo. (Reuters: Isseï Kato)
Mr Johnson had his eyes glued to the try line as he raced across the pitch on a mini-turf, knocking over young Toki Sekiguchi along the way.
The boy was not injured and quickly returned to his activities.
In 1984, Prime Minister Bob Hawke was hit in the eye by a cricket ball during a social match in Canberra. He was taken to hospital after his right eye was cut when the bullet shattered the lens of his glasses.
And John Howard threw one right on the field during a visit to Pakistan in 2005.
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