Fremantle legend Matthew Pavlich is set to lace up his boots for the first time in seven years next month, headlining a star-studded all-stars charity match in the name of mental health.
Former Dockers, West Coast Eagles and WA stars from around the AFL will renew old hostilities on February 17 at Leederville Oval with names including Andrew Embley, Ryan Crowley, Alex Rance, Matt Priddis, Bob Murphy, Troy Cook, Chance Bateman, David Zaharakis, Brett Peake and Adam Selwood to take the field.
While the former champions are ecstatic to be pulling the boots back on, albeit anxious about the state of their bodies, for the WA All Stars Charity Game, they were all quick to remind people the game is about much more than entertainment.
“I’m looking forward to getting back out there and importantly raising awareness for mental health and using sport as a vehicle is a great way of educating people and raising some funds for initiatives that go back to the community,” Pavlich, who kicked a club-record 700 goals across 353 games in purple, told The West Australian.
“I know for myself that feeling active and physical helps my mental wellbeing, and we know from lots of studies how a sense of purpose and commitment and connection to a club or team or community is important to mental health, so sport is crucial to communities and to how people think about themselves.
“It’s been seven and a half years since I played a competitive game of footy. My last one was at Subiaco Oval, which my kids don’t know much about.
“I’m going to pull up very sore and be decrepit and slow and not that good, but it’ll be fun and give everyone the chance to have a laugh and a fun day out.
“But broader, there’s an opportunity to give back to the community; a lot of the funds raised will head back to local sporting clubs and local communities raising awareness and funds for mental health.”
Norm Smith-winning Eagle Embley said he jumped at the chance to play for a “really good cause”.
“I don’t play many of these games anymore; they’re always nice to come along and support, but I’m going to put the boots on; I’ve been dragged into it,” he told The West Australian.
“I will spend a bit of time in the goal square, and I don’t think I will move out of it. It’s good to see so many of my ex-teammates and a lot of the ex-Fremantle boys getting involved for a really good cause.”
“Sport is a great way to be able to clear the mind, and I find exercise, in particular when I am fit, you get the physical attributes, but it’s also the mental side of things as well where you feel really clear and good about yourself, and sport is important to have that in your life. When you’re training with people, you get an understanding of who they are and what they might be going through in their life, so it’s all about having those conversations.”
Crowley admitted he was a “ring in” but couldn’t say no to an opportunity close to his heart or the chance to crack in at Embley once more.
“I was a late ring in; the boys got me at a weak moment because I’m a bit worried my body isn’t going to hold up – I actually did my back wringing out a towel the other day – so I told the boys I wasn’t in the shape to play, but obviously it’s such a great cause, and it pulled at my heartstrings, and I couldn’t say no,” he told The West Australian.
“I’d love to line up on (Embley), to be honest, because he’s probably the only guy in worse shape than me, and we have played a lot of footy against each other, and any chance we can get to get into each other, we try to take so looking forward to it.
“Especially in the sporting environment and in the male environment when you grow up trying to be hard men, and sometimes they’re hard conversations to have, but Happiness Co is a Charity really close to my heart. It’s really close to me. I’ve had personal experiences with friends growing up, so it’s very important.
“Just trying to change the mindsets of those young men that if you are struggling and you need someone to talk to, you should be knocking on that door as soon as you can and getting on top of it.”
Outside the game, there will also be pop-up bars, food stalls, and a kid-friendly zone alongside the mega stage featuring live entertainment from PROOF the Band and DJ Jaymee Franchina.
The match was organised by local mental health charity Happiness Co Foundation.