Nathan Fitzgerald, 27, received critical head injuries during a Australian rules football game at Lalor Recreation Reserve, in Melbourne's north, on Saturday.
Mr Fitzgerald, who was playing for Epping Football Netball Club, is believed to have clashed heads with a teammate after attempting to tackle an opposing player.
Epping club president Luke De Vincentis said the clash was the first of several blows and it was followed by a knee or boot to the head and a head-first landing on a covered cricket pitch.
The pitch sits in the centre of the oval and is covered with a multi-layered synthetic surface when football games are played.
Mr De Vincentis said local players were well aware the cricket pitch was harder and less forgiving than the surrounding surface.
"Everyone always makes comments about not wanting to get tackled on the cricket pitch," he told AAP.
He couldn't recall any serious injuries arising from contact with the surface, but said cuts, grazes and rolled ankles were common.
While covered cricket pitches were features of ovals across the country, Mr De Vincentis hoped the incident would encourage a rethink.
"It's probably been an accident waiting to happen," he said.
"I really hope there is quite a bit more exploration to how cricket pitches are covered and understanding that that synthetic strip of turf just probably isn't enough anymore."
The City of Whittlesea, which manages the reserve, said the pitch covering met the relevant safety standards and it was commonly used nationwide.
"The synthetic cricket wicket at Lalor Recreation Reserve was covered with a purpose-designed, multi-layered synthetic surface in accordance with applicable AFL/Cricket Australia performance standards for shared-use sporting grounds," a spokesperson said.
"Covered cricket wicket systems of this type are commonly used on shared-use sporting grounds across Australia."
Emergency services treated Mr Fitzgerald at the scene after medical specialists and players rushed to his aid.
Mr De Vincentis praised their efforts, adding the young player's condition might have deteriorated sooner had he not been treated immediately.
"Emergency services have told us that if it wasn't for their work, there was every chance he could have died on the spot," he said.
"They were fantastic in dealing with a situation that not many football trainers would have had to have ever dealt with in the history of our game."
The incident had rocked the sporting club, Mr De Vincentis said, which came together on Saturday night and again on Sunday after hearing Mr Fitzgerald's condition had deteriorated.
"There were 120-odd people at the club yesterday, just being together and rallying around each other," he said.
Counselling services would be made available and early conversations had begun about a possible memorial, should Mr Fitzgerald die.
Local junior Jax Collins, who attended the reserve wearing a jersey in honour of Mr Fitzgerald, said he was saddened to learn the news.
"I felt pretty upset," he said.
"No one really wants that to happen to someone when they're playing footy."
Mr De Vincentis remembered Mr Fitzgerald as kind, upbeat and softly-spoken off-field.
"But he was tenacious and courageous as anything on the field," he said.
Mr Fitzgerald also worked at Mernda Central College, where he has been a maths and science teacher since 2023.
Supports will be made available for the school community, a Department of Education spokesperson said.
"Our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of Nathan Fitzgerald at this very difficult time," they said.
