Aussie rules player dies during training session

A 22-year-old man has died while training for his Aussie rules football club just outside of Melbourne.

Vincent Bonanno was taking part in an interclub game for Silvan Football Club at Silvan, east of Melbourne, when he collapsed on the field shortly after midday yesterday.

Bystanders began CPR on Mr Bonanno until paramedics arrived at the football ground around 12.30pm.

Six paramedics in two ambulances and a rescue helicopter rushed to the scene and worked on Mr Bonanno for 45mins but were unable to revive him. He was pronounced dead at the scene, an Ambulance Victoria spokesman told ninemsn.

It is believed Mr Bonanno had been training for around 15 minutes before taking a break.

Following a team huddle he collapsed face-first onto the ground.

On Friday afternoon Mr Bonanno updated his Facebook status to say he was looking forward to the weekend, which included his brother's engagement party on Saturday night.

"Good weekend ahead can't wait," he wrote.

But when a Facebook friend asked in a wall posting about playing football on Sunday, Vincent was less enthusiastic.

"God knows when we're gonna finish up on (Saturday) night," Mr Bonanno wrote, referring to the engagement party.

Club treasurer Charlie Caputo told ninemsn Mr Bonanno had been involved with the club, where his father is a life member, since he was a young boy and played for the club since under 17s.

"He was a really good and genuine kid, and was much loved and respected by everyone," Mr Caputo said.

He said reports Mr Bonanno's older brother had been playing when Vincent collapsed were untrue, and that he was not at the ground at the time.

A police spokeswoman said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding the sudden death and a report will be prepared for the coroner.