‘Our thoughts are with him’: AFL young gun ‘accidentally ran over friend with a car’

St Kilda’s Charlie Banfield “accidentally ran over his close friend with a car”, according to the ABC, with the club confirming the incident took place.

Multiple reports state the 19-year-old struck his friend at a rural property in Yallingup, in WA’s south-west.

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The ABC reported the victim was hospitalised with broken bones but emergency services were not called to the scene, claiming the incident happened at a party.

However the Herald Sun reported the incident occurred when “a group of mates were camping” explaining Banfield was attempting to slowly move his car.

A source told the newspaper the incident was “innocuous” and “purely accidental”, and that it “could have been so much worse”.

Banfield’s teammate Alix Tauru was reportedly part of the trip.

No legal action is expected with the incident being treated as an accident.

“The St Kilda Football Club is aware of an incident involving Charlie Banfield on a rural private property in Western Australia,” the club said in a statement to the ABC.

“Our thoughts are with Charlie and the injured individual, who we understand will make a swift and full recovery.

“The club has already spoken to Charlie about this incident and will continue to support him through the matter.”

Banfield played three games in his debut AFL season after being selected with pick 41 in the 2025 draft.

He was vice-captain at Perth private school Scotch College.

His dad Drew was a dual West Coast premiership player while his mum Amber spent six years on the board of the West Australian Football Commission.