“There’s no wrong or right way to identify with this conversation. We’re just so glad that people are beginning to understand that there’s no shame in talking about mental health and, in doing so, you could actually save the life of someone you love.”

Frawley’s wife Anita, and Chelsea, Danielle and Keeley Frawley will be joined by Saints’ great Nathan Burke, Richmond champion Matthew Richardson, former Olympian Nova Peris, Western Bulldogs’ premiership star Tom Boyd and current St Kilda players Max King and Olivia Vesely as ambassadors for the event.

Saints’ chief executive Matt Finnis said on Friday the need to raise mental-health awareness had never been more important.

“Clearly, the conversation around mental health has never been more important. As we have come out of COVID, hopefully, we are seeing the impact. We are seeing it at schools, we are seeing it in communities,” he said.

Finnis said virtual footballs were an ideal way to show support.

“A footy is symbolic of many things: mateship, connection, a shared passion. It’s different for every individual, just like mental health,” he said.

“That’s why this year we’re introducing virtual footies as a way for people to donate to Spud’s Game and to help fund life-saving mental health and suicide prevention programs, delivered through the Danny Frawley Centre.

“The feedback from Saints fans last year was that one in two of them who either watched or attended Spud’s Game reached out to someone to check in on their wellbeing. That’s the stat that we’re proudest of, and we hope that through the purchasing and sharing of virtual footies that impact will be felt in the lead-up to and following game day.”

Garry Lyon, Tony Lockett and Stewart Lowe, three of Frawley’s closest friends, delivered a stirring pre-match address when the Demons and Saints met last year. There are plans for a similar address later this month.

“In an AFL first, we saw the footy world literally stand still to observe a spine tingling and highly moving two-minute pre-game address from Garry Lyon, Stewart Lowe and Tony Lockett,” Finnis said.

“To see mental health being featured in such a prominent, prime-time position was very powerful and something we as a club are extremely proud of.

“While it’s still a tightly guarded secret as to who will be addressing the players this year, I have no doubt it will again be a very meaningful moment.”

The Frawley centre was the brainchild of Finnis, who secured $8.5 million in funding from the former Morrison government and $7 million from the Andrews government.

“We had a vision and, ultimately, it’s come to reality,” Finnis said.

Frawley, the former St Kilda captain, Richmond coach, media commentator and AFL figure, died when his car struck a tree outside Ballarat in 2019.

A much-loved character who had time for everyone, his legacy has increasingly centred on his mental-health battles and an unflinching willingness to disclose them.

“I think ‘Spud’ would be proud he can have a legacy in this space because he was open about some struggles he was having. If he thought people would come into his centre and utilise the services , I think he would be thrilled,” Richardson said.

Crisis support can be found at Lifeline: (13 11 14 and lifeline.org.au), the Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467 and suicidecallbackservice.org.au) and Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636 and beyondblue.org.au)

McRae won’t be drawn on De Goey contract

Alexander Dabb

Craig McRae has remained tight-lipped about Jordan De Goey’s contract talks, as the Pies star publicly announced this week he wants to stay at Collingwood.

“I won’t comment about contracts whether it’s Jordy or anyone else, I’ve made that public before, but what I will say is that I catch up with Jordy regularly, and he’s really happy, he’s playing great footy, and I love to see him smiling around the place.”

The Collingwood coach said De Goey, who is out of contract come season’s end, is “a player that we know at his best is important to us” but hasn’t discussed anything beyond this year with the 26-year-old.

“Spending more and more time with Jordy and seeing what he does within our four walls, he’s a great person for our culture.

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“He came for a walk at my house, a couple of weeks ago now, and just had a general chat about life like I do with all the players.”

McRae was also enthused about the prospects of mid-season draftee Josh Carmichael, who will arrive at the club from West Adelaide on Friday afternoon.

“He’s a hard running midfielder, he’s about 191 [centimetres], he’s playing some great footy at West Adelaide this year, he’s played state footy over there. We love his running capability, that’s going to really complement our midfield, I think if he can settle into our environment and play good footy in the VFL, he’s a player that, we think, can play AFL footy for the rest of the year.”

Sitting 10th on the ladder, Collingwood head into the clash against the Hawks (where McRae was an assistant coach last year) having “built a lot of belief” in their capabilities, enjoying consecutive wins against Fremantle (third) and Carlton (fifth), with another strong win having the potential to propel them into the top eight.

Breust best small forward of the past decade, says premiership teammate

Jon Pierik

Three-time Hawthorn premiership player Liam Shiels says teammate Luke Breust has been the best small forward of the past decade.

As the pair prepare to celebrate their 250-game milestones together, against Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday, Shiels, 31, had nothing but praise for his premiership teammate and great mate.

“I remember ‘Punk’ coming in as a skinny kid who used to wear a helmet as a junior from Temora in country NSW,” Shiels said at a windswept Waverley on Friday.

“He has always been a pretty flashy player. He has a great side step, had a rugby background, but the thing I love about him the most is, he is so down to earth, so humble.

“He is probably one of the best, or he is the best, in my opinion, small forward of the last decade. He is super clutch in big moments. We have seen that throughout this year.

“If there is a goal that needs to be kicked in the last quarter with the game in the balance, he is normally the guy that steps up and kicks it. Super reliable over a long period of time but can do the remarkable stuff as well.”

Shiels’ declaration does have merit, for Breust, 31, blessed with smarts, speed and a technically sound kicking technique, has booted 460 goals in one of the toughest roles in the game since debuting in 2011.

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His “super clutch” talents were on show in July last year with a running goal with 43 seconds remaining which forced a draw with Melbourne at the MCG.

Through the triple premiership years, he had 40 goals in 2013, 57 in 2014 (when he was an All Australian on the first of two occasions) and 52 in 2015.

That Breust was second for score assists across the league between 2010-19 also showed how unselfish he was.

He prospered from playing in the same forward line as Lance Franklin for three years and Jarryd Roughead for nine, while he and Jack Gunston also have a great understanding inside attacking 50. He has been the club’s leading goal-kicker three times.

However, there have been other great small-medium forwards through the past decade, including fellow Hawk Cyril Rioli, Eddie Betts and Robbie Gray.

While Breust provided polish up forward, Shiels was a no-nonsense midfielder, who ran hard all day and did what coach Alastair Clarkson required.

So long ago were they drafted that they thought they had both been taken in 2009. Shiels, however, was a second-round pick in 2008. Breust was taken in the 2009 rookie draft.

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“To share the day together, makes it extra special,” Shiels said of their impending milestone.

For Shiels, it’s been a tougher 2022 campaign, with new coach Sam Mitchell reworking a tired midfield, which has also seen Tom Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara having to adjust to change.

Shiels has managed seven senior matches in what could be his final year at the club.

“No doubt, it has been a challenge,” Shiels said.

“I want to be playing AFL footy every week but completely understand where the footy club is at. We need to inject some youth into the side.

“Luckily enough, we drafted a few guys that were ready to go and they play a similar position to me, so I have really enjoyed getting down to Box Hill and working with some of the younger guys that we have got, and happy to play whatever role it can be to drive us to that next premiership.

“If that’s being the medi-sub some weeks, and guiding these guys from the bench, or going down to Box Hill and working with a few of the younger guys that are playing down there, I am more than happy to do that.”

The Hawks are hopeful Jack Gunston (ankle) makes a quicker than expected return against the Magpies, while Ned Reeves, having recovered from a dislocated shoulder, is in the frame to be the frontline ruckman, a role they missed in the loss to the Gold Coast Suns last weekend.

Boost for Bombers as young star re-signs

Jon Pierik

Essendon have endured a tumultuous season but it hasn’t stopped their emerging talent from committing to the club, the latest being Nik Cox on a two-year deal.

In a week when the Bombers began a mid-season review, having fallen to a 2-9 win-loss record, Cox, 20, has shown faith.

He follows Archie Perkins, Sam Durham, Zach Reid and Kyle Langford in recently re-signing.

“I’m so happy to have signed with the club for a further two years, especially with the likes of Archie and Zach also committing to the club,” Cox said.

“We have a great core group of young players who have a lot of development ahead of us but we are building something special and I can’t wait to be a part of it.”

Cox, taken with pick No.8 in the 2020 national draft, played 22 games last year. He has managed five this season but is dealing with a lisfranc injury.

The Bombers have had significant injury issues, including to Jake Stringer, but could face a significant list overhaul come the end of the season. Skipper Dyson Heppell is also off contract and has yet to be offered a new deal.

Chief executive Xavier Campbell said this week the Bombers would be active in the trade period over the next two years.

“We believe we’ve got a really good foundation. We’ve brought in some excellent talent in the last 12 months - Cox, Perkins, Reid,” Campbell said.

“We’ve made the most of our mid-season and pre-season drafting, [Sam] Durham and [Nic] Martin have shown excellent signs really early in their career, and I believe we’ve traded pretty well.

“[Jye] Caldwell and [Peter] Wright and even [Will] Snelling, they’re all good foundational players for us to build upon. It’s the most exciting opportunity for us to enhance and grow our list quickly through trade in this next 24 months.

“We’ve taken a very deliberate approach to build from the base up.”

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