A young man has died during an Australian rules game in regional Victoria.

The Otway Districts Football Club player, aged in his 20s, fell unconscious during a game at the Gellibrand Recreation Reserve just before 3pm on Saturday.

He was unable to be revived despite ground staff, and later paramedics, performing CPR.

“It sounds as though it occurred just as part of the play,” an Ambulance Victoria spokesman told AAP.

“CPR was being performed when paramedics arrived – they continued CPR but were unable to resuscitate the man and he died at the scene.”

The game, against Lorne Football Club, was called off.