The Western Football Netball League are gearing up as part of a record 72,000-player Pat Cronin Foundation round, spanning 120 venues from Melbourne to Bendigo between May 2 and 4.
It will join five other leagues in the 3038 team event in honouring the memory of a 19-year-old Pat Cronin, a promising young footballer who lost his life after he was struck by a coward punch during a night out in Melbourne in 2016.
Every player will wear a yellow armband – the official colour of the foundation – to symbolise a stand against all forms of violence, including the coward punch.
Scheduled highlights of the round include marquee matches on Saturday, May 3, Yarraville Seddon and Spotswood in the Western league and East Sunbury and Glenroy at John McMahon Reserve in the EDFL.
WFNL chief executive David Jennings said violence has no place in our communities, and it is essential that we work together to prevent such tragic incidents from occurring.
“By partnering with the Pat Cronin Foundation, we are taking a proactive step in promoting a safe and inclusive environment within our League and beyond,” he said.
“We’re delighted to have Spotswood and Yarraville Seddon playing in our Pat Cronin Foundation Round marquee match and we’re sure not only these two clubs, but all of our clubs will again be great supporters of the day.”
Foundation director Matt Cronin, the father of Pat, said the growth of the round in the past two seasons had been “incredibly humbling”.
“Participation in the round this year alone is up by nearly 30 per cent,” he said. “In addition, we’re anticipating around 250,000 spectators across the weekend, which is an amazing opportunity to deliver our messages into the heart of communities where the impact is felt most.
“The yellow armband is not just a symbol. It’s a conversation starter about managing emotions on and off the field and walking away from violence – helping to prevent situations that can change lives forever.”
