Hateley, 17, fractured his fifth and sixth vertebrae in a ruck contest during a Horsham District Football League match at Natimuk on Saturday.

Natimuk president Willie Hanson said the club would officially ask the HDFL to investigate the incident this week.

Relieved father Euan Hateley said doctors were happy with his son's operation.

"The doctors told me they were very happy with how it went. They said Bryce is progressing well," Mr Hateley said. "I don't know much about the details of the surgery, but I believe they used screws to help fix the fractures."

Mr Hateley said his son had not suffered any paralysis from the injury.

"He continues to have full movement and feeling in his fingers and toes. We are thankful for that," he said.

Mr Hateley said his son had been in good spirits since the injury.

"His spirits have been as well as could be expected. He has been flat on his back since the injury and it becomes very uncomfortable after a while. There is not a lot to do when you are laying flat on your back," he said.

The teenager was air-lifted to Melbourne on Sunday afternoon from Wimmera Base Hospital.

Mr Hateley said he and his wife Lynne had been out of town when his son was injured.

"We got a call from our daughter, Emily, who was at the game, saying Bryce had been hurt. We rushed back to Horsham and met him there," he said.

Mr Hateley said his son would stay in Melbourne until released from hospital.

"The doctors told us Bryce would not be able to come home until they were completely happy with his recovery. So we will just have to wait on the hospital staff to say when he is right," he said.

Mr Hateley said his son's year 12 studies at Horsham College would be put on hold.

"It is too early to know what to do about his school work," he said.

"We will just have to take it one day at a time and see what happens."

Mr Hateley said his son had not spoken about the incident which had left his football career in jeopardy.

"We are not concerned about that now. All we want is for him to make a full recovery."

Mr Hateley said the support the family had received from the community was `fantastic'.

"We want to thank everyone for their support. We have had lots of calls and offers of support. We are very thankful for that," he said.

Natimuk coach Nathan Fidler said the club was hopeful Hateley would make a full recovery.

"I have been here for two years and he has played every game," Fidler said.

"He is a future leader of the club and is already one of the vice-captains.

"Players like him are the future of the club but right now we all just want him to recover, we just hope he gets better."