Fellow St Kilda legends tributes for Danny Frawley at club best and fairest
Danny Frawley impacted countless lives in the AFL community, one former teammate delivered an emotional farewell to his “best mate”.
Danny Frawley’s tragic death on Monday continues to be felt throughout the football community and on Wednesday night the club where he made his name came together.
St Kilda held their best and fairest, an event they considered cancelling in the wake of his shock death.
Instead they thought about what Frawley would have wanted and in the end decided to go ahead with the night and remember their inspirational leader.
The 56-year-old’s AFL career began at the Saints in 1984 and ended in 1995. It ended after 240 games and a host of achievements to his name, including being the club’s then longest tenured captain.
READ: Frawley’s heartbreaking no-show
His impact was felt all throughout the club and on Wednesday night one of his close mates and fellow Saints legend Stewart Loewe paid tribute to Frawley.
“Daniel Patrick Frawley born 8th of September, 1963. Who was Danny Frawley? He was larger than life, he was the country kid, he was a footballer, he was our skipper, he was a coach, he was a spud farmer and media personality,” Loewe said opening the tributes for Spud.
“He was a husband, a dad and he was a friend to many and he was one of my best mates and he’ll always be my hero.
“When Matt Finnis asked if I wanted to pay tribute to Danny tonight I couldn’t answer him, I said I need some time.
Vale, Danny Frawley â¤ï¸
— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) September 11, 2019
A special tribute to Spud from the 2019 Trevor Barker Award. pic.twitter.com/swohwI6yHt
“I was numb, I was in shock and I was struggling like us all about what had just happened, trying to understand it.
“After an hour or so by myself I started to think ‘what would Spud want? What would he do?’.
“The answer was pretty obvious, put your suit on roll up your sleeves and get the bloody job done. That’s just who he was.
“Anita, Chelsea, Danielle and Keeley as well as Danny’s immediate family and close friends would all want us to acknowledge this beautiful man and reflect on the legacy he has left and not just at this magnificent club, but also the entire football community.”
â¤ï¸ pic.twitter.com/hjTlCWKF2n
— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) September 11, 2019
“Footy clubs are full of cliches, but the one that continually comes to mind is ‘who would you want to take into battle?’.
“Spud was always that man. He’d have ya back every time, leading from the front. Kind of ironic that from a man who played fullback.
“Kenny Sheldon mentioned something yesterday that resonated with me. He described Spud as the glue that held everything together at St Kilda and wow what a perfect metaphor that was.
“He knew when to lighten the mood and he was not afraid to shed a tear. He was the man I just adored, first as a teammate and then as my skipper and then as one of my very best mates.
“All he ever wanted for this club was success and we know if we keep filling this room with people like him we’ll have it.
“Use tonight as the start rather than the end and remember that as I know we all will, that the big man will always be watching over us.
“Rest in peace mate, I love you.”
The man who surpassed Frawley as the longest tenured St Kilda captain in Nick Riewoldt also honoured the legacy of the great man in another emotionally charged night on Fox Footy’s AFL 360.
“We’ve all been impacted by Spud in some way,’ Riewoldt explained on Fox Footy’s AFL 360.
“It’s such a difficult task, how are you meant to get up and encapsulate your sentiment and your love and your feeling about a man in a few minutes? It’s just such a difficult task.
“We became friends. There’s a group of guys who go to the Brighton Baths most mornings and Spud was the man to hold court in the steam room.
“That realisation this morning down there with Max Hudghton and Loewy [Stewart Loewe]. When you play for so long and you spend time at numerous football clubs, networks, radio stations, you just touch so many people.
“I am so fortunate to have a really nice friendship and the special relationship with Spud.”
Nick Riewoldt recalls a funny exchange with Danny Frawley the week he drew level with him as St Kilda captain.
— FOX FOOTY (@FOXFOOTY) September 11, 2019
“He said when Mark Taylor was level with Don Bradman on 334, he retired. I’m not sure if he was comparing himself to the Don, but he was half serious.†#AFL360 pic.twitter.com/QraCU9xq7T
Riewoldt spoke of Frawley’s cheekiness, explaining how the former club captain suggested he should end on the same games as him, in a similar gesture to Australia Test captain Mark Taylor and his batting declaration.
Taylor ended his highest batting innings on 334 not out, declaring to ensure he would be linked by the famous number scored by the legendary Sir Donald Bradman.
“The week I drew level with Spud for games captained at St Kilda. He did say to me when Mark Taylor was level with Don Bradman, he retired,” Riewoldt said.
“That was just his humour. I don’t think he was really comparing himself to the Don, he was half serious.
“His love for the football club, has been so valuable for this new wave of young St Kilda players. We would have induction camps …(he was) up and about and laughing and carrying on and just making whatever he did was fun. And then the topic would change and it would be something about the jumper and what it means to play for St Kilda.
“You could see the young guys, because he’d been so jovial and made everyone laugh and feel good, to be speaking so passionate and emotional that was it was such an honour in his eyes to play for St Kilda, it was tangible, you could feel it.
“The emotion and the power of what he was saying to these blokes. It’s just going to leave a massive hole.”
If you or someone you know needs help, contact BeyondBlue on 1300 224 636 or Lifeline on 13 11 14. RUOK? is a suicide prevention charity that aims to start life-changing conversations.
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