AFL Players’ Association backs charity match to raise funds for those impacted by the bushfires
The AFL Players’ Association has thrown its support behind the idea of a representative football match to raise funds for those impacted by the bushfires, with Easton Wood among those leading the charge.
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The AFL Players’ Association has thrown its support behind the idea of a representative football match to raise funds for those impacted by Australia’s devastating bushfires.
After it was revealed State-of-Origin could be revived as part of a raft of initiatives to support fire-ravaged communities, players’ association chief executive Paul Marsh said the playing group would “love to see it happen”.
The idea was discussed among the AFLPA’s board members and delegates at their meeting at Marvel Stadium on Wednesday.
AFLPA board member and Western Bulldogs defender Easton Wood said it would be “really special” to be a part of a major fundraising match by the league.
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As the fire crisis continues across Australia, Marsh has been in regular dialogue with AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan about the best way the players could offer support.
“I have been talking to Gill for a few days about the potential for this game to happen and the players and the PA have just had a meeting upstairs and are very supportive of it,” Marsh said.
“There is a bit of water to go under the bridge to get this thing up, but I think from a players’ perspective we would love to see it happen.
“What’s going on in the communities at the moment is horrific and if we can support in any way and I think we could do something really meaningful here then we will.
“The players … are keen to do something, so let’s (hope) we can get something up.”
The Herald Sun revealed on Wednesday an AFL fundraising game could be held as soon as next month with Marvel Stadium being considered as a possible venue.
Marsh said he could not yet offer any more details about what format the match would take, but said the important thing was the match had the platform to raise as much cash as it could.
“We’ll work through all the details with the AFL. What’s most important is that we get a game together that the fans are interested in and that can raise as much money for the bushfire victims and I think that’s what our focus is,” Marsh said.
“When you have something like this that is potentially coming late in the piece, you’ve got to think on your feet and you’ve got to move and be flexible and we’ll do that. But we’ll work through this over the coming days.
“The players are very supportive of getting this game up and running and let’s now work through this with the AFL.”
Wood said he grew up watching State-of-Origin football and that it would be great to see it revived to help the bushfire victims.
“I think to be a part of something like that would be really special and one thing we know about Australians is when we’re down on our luck everybody rallies behind each other,” Wood said.
“To be able to contribute to something like that by putting on a game would be really special and wonderful to be a part of.
“I grew up watching State of Origin as a really young kid and really enjoyed it so it would be nice to potentially have it back.”
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Wood conceded there could be some reservations from the clubs over the potential risk of injury, but the concept would be hard to reject for such a cause.
“It’s hard for me to speak for club land, obviously they would have I suppose worries about always that risk of injury, “ Wood said.
“But it would be a hard thing to say no to for the good of the country and how much good could come from having such a game. “