Richmond legend fractures ankle after collapsing on golf course

Richmond great Dale Weightman has suffered a fractured left ankle after collapsing while playing golf.

Weightman, who was diagnosed with type one diabetes during his career, collapsed on the course while he was playing a round with his brother and nephew, after his blood sugar levels dropped.

The 57-year-old had screws inserted in his ankle and will be in a moon boot for around two months.

"They had to put a couple of screws in and took out a bit of bone. I am out of action for a little while, for six to eight weeks," Weightman told Fairfax.

"I am in half plaster for about 10 days, then I go into a moon boot for six to seven weeks.

"I got to the 13th hole and I was feeling a bit wonky. I thought: 'I am gone here'. What happens when you have a hypo (hypoglycaemia), your whole body collapses, and you roll on your back.

"I was playing with my younger brother and one of his sons. When they came back, my brother tried to pick me up and I just collapsed ... that's when I did all the damage. What normally happens is you leave the guy on the ground and you feed him the sugar or the lolly or the soft drink to get him up and about. It was one of those things."

He played 274 games for the Tigers, including the 1980 premiership. He won two Richmond best and fairest awards, captained Victoria on three occasions, is a member of the AFL and Richmond Hall of Fame and a member of the Richmond Team of the Century.

Weightman currently works in Richmond's fan development department.