Melbourne Rebels embrace Good Friday clash against Western Force

THE Melbourne Rebels hope to make Good Friday a permanent fixture on the Super Rugby landscape by capitalising on an AFL-free zone.

Captain Scott Higginbotham in action for the Rebels.

THE Melbourne Rebels hope to make Good Friday a permanent fixture on the Super Rugby landscape by capitalising on an AFL-free zone.

Renowned for adventurous marketing, the Rebels hope to raise $50,000 for the Royal Children’s Hospital when it faces Western Force at AAMI Park on Friday.

Determined to create ripples around Melbourne’s AFL stranglehold, the club will use a variety of fundraising tools, including a guaranteed $25,000 donation from Bonds, to meet its target.

Rebels’ CEO Rob Clarke stressed the importance of embracing the match, while pointing to Melbourne’s sporting reputation.

“Melbourne is the Good Friday Appeal,” Clarke said.

“It is important we embrace what is special to Melbourne and all Victorians, and we have been working hard behind the scenes to ensure we can provide a healthy contribution to the Good Friday Appeal.

“The players who participate in the match at AAMI Park that evening will be visiting children in hospital earlier that day. The players came up with the concept knowing full well how important it is for the Victorian community, but more importantly the kids.

“I know many of our players have children and we encourage them to bring them into the dressing rooms and share in their dad’s success; visiting the Royals Children’s hospital on game day will no doubt inspire our players to play for them, their families and Melbourne.”

Melbourne will produce a branded teddy bear available for purchase leading into the match (via the Rebels website) and also at the ground next Friday.

Patrons will be encouraged to either purchase a teddy bear ($10) or the teddy and a ticket promotion (teddy and adult general admission ticket for $20).

A club official said the teddys can be either kept or donated to the Good Friday Appeal at the end of the match. The teddys will be wrapped in accordance with health regulations to ensure they can then be given to sick children.

Players from both the Rebels and Force will walk the perimeter of the ground post-match to sign autographs.

Players will also collect the bears from those patrons choosing to participate in the ‘Turf a Teddy’ donation.

The Rebels are eager to capitalise on a sports-free landscape as the AFL continues to resist playing on Good Friday.

Several other initiatives are being planned around the vent, including involvement from gourmet chocolatier Ernest Hillier’s.

The Rebels challenge defending champions Chiefs on Saturday night before heading home to face the Force.