INJURED defender Jasper Pittard has praised the courage of teammate Chad Wingard in constantly attacking the football, despite the 'friendly-fire' that consigned him to hospital on Saturday night.

Both Port Adelaide players flew high into one another during a first quarter marking contest against the Demons last Saturday, with 21-year-old Pittard coming off second-best.

[ Related: Injury update ]

Having fallen onto his upper back as a result of the mid-air collision, Pittard was taken to a Northern Territory hospital where he was found to have rib and lung injuries.

He is riding with Great Southern Railways on The Ghan back to Adelaide with his father to offset the consequences of flying with the injury.

Despite the incident, Pittard does not want the incident to affect Wingard’s brand of football. "All I remember was going up [for the ball] and I didn't see Chad coming at me," Pittard told the NT News.

"It was a pretty courageous thing he [Wingard] did I thought, I was just the one that copped it. You would never want him to change the way he attacks the ball. Maybe next time I will protect myself a bit more.

"There is one positive thing about it - we got put up to first class and Dad (Michael) has been able to come with me (after flying up from Torquay in Victoria).

"I've heard it's pretty amazing [the Ghan journey] and it's probably something I wouldn't have done if this hadn't happened to me."

Pittard’s condition will be evaluated upon his return to Power Headquarters at Alberton.