Melbourne Football Club says rookie forward Leigh Williams' condition is improving in hospital after being diagnosed with a viral infection of the brain and placed into an induced coma.
Williams, who is yet to play a game for the Demons after being taken with pick number 59 in the 2011 draft, became severely ill on Saturday evening.
He was taken by ambulance to the intensive care unit at Box Hill Hospital and was diagnosed with viral encephalitis.
He regained consciousness on Monday morning after being treated with anti-viral drugs, but will remain in hospital for another two weeks.
Williams' doctors expect the 21-year-old to make a full recovery and return to training in time.
"Our focus is to ensure Leigh's health continues to improve, as it has over the past 48 hours and that he makes a full recovery," Demons manager Josh Mahoney said.
"Clearly returning to football is secondary to Leigh's health and we certainly won't be rushing anything in that regard."
Tags: australian-football-league, sport, melbourne-3000, australia, vic First posted May 02, 2012 17:04:53