Danielle Frawley has opened up about why the Round 2 Spud’s Game is a fitting tribute

Danielle Frawley has spoken ahead of Saturday’s Spud’s Game and why it’s a fitting tribute to her late Dad.

Anita Frawley, wife of Danny Frawley, and daughters Danielle and Chelsea. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Danielle Frawley, daughter of the late Danny Frawley, has spoken about honouring her father’s legacy ahead of the Spud’s Game: Time 2 Talk on Saturday night.

Frawley, one of Danny and wife Anita’s three daughters, said the Round 2 initiative to raise awareness about the need to talk was a fitting way to honour her Dad who passed away in September 2019 after a battle with mental health issues.

“Dad always wanted something named after him for starters,’’ Danielle told the Gus and Gawny podcast, with her partner Angus Brayshaw and Melbourne captain Max Gawn.

Angus Brayshaw, Danielle Frawley and Max Gawn

“He never got on the team of the century because he was on the board choosing it for St Kilda. So I think it all started when the Centre came about.

“That was obviously in his honour and they were thinking there’s no real match or round for mental health and getting money to go towards that.

“We thought it was a good idea to continue Dad’s legacy and name the game after him.

“My sister (Chelsea) got hired by St Kilda for this particular job.”

Money raised will fund programs at the Danny Frawley Centre for Health and Wellbeing, which will be available for schoolchildren, sports clubs, community groups and Saints’ past players. Funds will be raised through movember.com/spud with special edition caps and T-shirts also available for purchase.

On the podcast it was also announced that the Melbourne players would match dollar for dollar the donations made to Gus & Gawny Spud’s Game Fundraiser.

Robert Harvey, Anita Frawley, Stewart Loewe and Anita's daughters in front, Chelsea (left) and Danielle (right) - with Danny Frawley's famous No.2 St Kilda guernsey to announce Spud’s Game. Picture: Corey Scicluna

Danny Frawley played 240 games for St Kilda from 1984 to 1995 before having successful coaching and media careers.

“The whole initiative is about getting people to talk to their friends and just starting the conversation really,’’ Danielle said.

She said her Dad made her aware of the phrase Time 2 Talk when he coached his daughters at Old Haileybury.

“I think before the trauma of Dad actually passing we were all quite aware of it because he would always say that to us,’’ Danielle said.

“And especially he was our coach at the footy club and he would always say if anyone is feeling down send them a message, get around them and just normalised for it us.

“So I think we were quite privy to it and he also had his podcast where he spoke about all that stuff as well.”

Danielle and Brayshaw have done much work in the field of mental health.

When asked by Gawn if she worried for Brayshaw given he’s suffered several concussions, she said: “I think when Dad played from then to now, there’s been so many medical  advancements and I have full confidence in the doctors at the clubs to make the right decision and also I think Angus is super, super smart and he can make decisions for himself surrounding that.

“I have full faith that he would make the right decision and he has and he’s obviously still playing.”

Head to @gusandgawny on Instagram to donate.