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Brownlow medallist, premiership player among ex-AFL stars heading to regional SA for mental health awareness

   Published Date: January 18, 2023
Pies make lucky escape

A number of ex-AFL stars will head to a South Australian regional town to help raise awareness and funds for men’s mental health support next month.

Key points:

  • Ex-AFL players Dane Swan, Shane Mumford and Leon Davis are among the stars heading to Mount Gambier
  • The Match for Mental Health will raise money for Headspace
  • Local celebrities will also be hitting the field for the event

Former top-level players Dane Swan, Leon Davis, Shane Mumford, Jordan Murdoch and Winis Imbi will take to the field in Mount Gambier as part of the Match for Mental Health.

The game, which started out as a group of mates wanting to raise awareness about men’s mental health issues, will also include local celebrities pulling on the boots.

Organiser and coach of one of the sides, Luke Thompson, said the organisers didn’t expect the idea to take off and attract past footy legends.

Brownlow medallist Dane Swan will also be heading to the South East to play for local club Nangwarry in April. (AAP: Julian Smith)

“A couple of my mates, a couple of younger fellas, they probably had a couple around their age in the last 12 to 18 months that have passed away through suicide,” he said.

“So the idea started with those [people].”

“We had it in our heads that it was just going to be a bunch of local boys just having a kick and just raising awareness, and the idea just took off.”

Pies make lucky escape
Leon Davis kicked 270 goals in 225 games for Collingwood. (AAP Image: David Crosling)

A Welcome to Country, stalls and live music will accompany the game at East Gambier Football Club under lights on February 17.

Funds raised through the game will be donated to the local Mount Gambier chapter of Headspace.

A man in a light collared shirt and navy suit jacket smiles in front a backdrop of green leafy trees.
Mount Gambier MP Troy Bell will be one of the local celebrities pulling on the boots in February. (ABC South East SA: Bec Whetham)

“Football clubs and netball clubs are a big part of communities,” Mr Thompson said

“So that’s where people rally when good things happen or bad things happen.

“So we just thought it would naturally fit, trying to organise a footy game to raise awareness.”

Two AFL teammates run to each other in celebration after winning a game,
Jordan Murdoch (left) is still playing senior football for Glenelg in the SA National Football League. (AAP: Darren England)

A Brownlow medallist, Goal of the Year winner and AFL Premiership player will take to the field on the day.

But Mr Thomspon said he expected the game would be a light-hearted affair, with players switching teams and putting on a show.

“I imagine there’d be a fair few who won’t be able to pull four quarters together,” he said.

“We’re treating it like a pretty big spectacle, which I’m hoping it will be and hopefully we get a few people through the gates.”

Source: AFL NEWS ABC

    

Author: Ivan Robinson