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Spud’s Game has been played since 2021 in memory of St Kilda great Danny Frawley who died by suicide in 2019.
Frawley battled depression and other mental health issues after his playing career despite building a successful media career.
St Kilda Saints and the Brisbane Lions players huddle before Spud’s game in 2023.Credit: AFL Photos
His wife Anita donated his brain to the Australian Sports Brain Bank and the ABC reported that in September 2020 researchers found Frawley was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE as it is known, which is caused by the impact of concussions.
From Saints media:
Spud’s Game
Tonight, Spud’s Game will return to footy’s biggest stage as the Saints take on Carlton at the MCG. Using the power of the game to start life-saving conversations, Spud’s Game will see the AFL community unite to stand for mental health and raise crucial funds which will go directly to life-saving mental health programs and research. The traditional two-minute moment will return at 7.40pm featuring Premiership Bulldog and mental health advocate, Tom Boyd.
Mental Health in Australia
- Mental health touches everyone – every club, every family, every person in one way or another.
- 1 in 5 Australians experienced a mental illness in the past year – that’s 4.3 million people.
- We’ve all had times when life gets heavy.
- The message is simple – don’t carry it alone. There is support, there is help, and you are not a burden.
- Whether you’re riding, donating, or just checking in on someone, that’s how we make change and save lives.
- Spud’s legacy is about breaking down stigma, speaking up, and having each other’s backs. It’s a message that’s more important now than ever
Click here for more information or to donate to the cause.
If you or anyone you know needs support, call Lifeline on 131 114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.
Rowan Marshall of the Saints and Tom De Koning of the Blues compete in the ruck.Credit: Getty Images
The Saints are back in it as Jack Sinclair found a game from a stoppage, took the footy and booted a goal.
Rowan Marshall made a super tap right into his path and he sprinted into goal.
The Saints are in this up to their eyeballs.
Blues 63, Saints 55 with 14 mins to play.
St Kilda edged within six points of Carlton in a tense but error-filled third quarter before Harry McKay – after a set-shot shank dribbled out of bounds earlier in the term – kicked the Blues 14 points clear at the final break.
Michael Voss’ men still hold sway in clearances (33-24) and contested possessions (101-85), but there is little between the sides in the other key statistics, so that is where Carlton can get the job done.
The stage is set for someone to stand up and wrestle this match in their team’s favour, and the Blues would love that to be Patrick Cripps, who hasn’t been at his dual Brownlow Medal-winning best this season.
Tom De Koning leads all players with six clearances, but Nick Haynes has been outstanding with nine intercept possessions – six of them marks – and Charlie Curnow (three goals) looks a potential match-winner. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has amassed a match-high 24 disposals and set up Cooper Sharman’s goal with a beautiful pass in the third quarter, so he looms as a major player in the final half hour. Jack Sinclair is the other one to watch on the Saints’ side.
Jack Higgins has been subbed out. Illness is the official reason given for Higgins, who didn’t look thrilled to be pulled out of the contest while seated on the bench.
The speedy Lance Collard is now into the game.
Blues 62, Saints 48 with 19 mins left to play.
Cooper Sharman and Nick Haynes of the Blues compete for a mark.Credit: AFL Photos
Both sides have locked down defensively and the game has become a slog with two goals that term.
But the Saints still have a huge task ahead of them to find enough shots, let along enough goals to beat out the Blues.
It’s on Ross Lyon and his men here. Can they summon the attacking nous to kick the goals they need to win this match? Or will they just defend, pressure and hope Carlton make enough errors for them to counter-attack?
Time will tell.
After so many minutes of goalless football, Sam Walsh kicked long to the square, where Harry McKay dived for a mark and won a free kick for holding.
He went back and booted his second.
That was an invaluable strike for the big Blue and his side.
Blues 62, Saints 48 with 90 seconds to go in Q3.
The goals have dried up as St Kilda have won more of the footy, but the Blues have dug in defensively.
Someone needs to break this game open.
Blues 55, Saints 47 with seven mins to go in Q3.
Cooper Sharman gets a handpass away.Credit: AFL Photos
Cooper Sharman took a sharp, diving mark for the Saints and went back and kicked the goal.
Last week he sparked the side in the third term, he’s going to try and do it again tonight.
Blues 54, Saints 47 with 13 mins to go in Q3.
Blue Blake Acres nurses a sore shoulder.Credit: AFL Photos
Lachie Cowan (hamstring tightness) is out for the rest of the game, but Nick Haynes and Blake Acres are back on the ground for the second half.
The Blues will play the rest of the match one man down, after Mitch McGovern (chest) was subbed out earlier and was sent to hospital for scans.
Blues 54, Saints 40 with 18 mins to go in Q3.
Carlton looked poised to rip this contest apart midway through the second term when they stormed to a 24-point lead, but St Kilda swung the momentum late to slash the half-time deficit to only 14.
The Saints ate into the Blues’ contested possession dominance and that proved crucial in them gaining territory, repeat inside-50s, and more scoring opportunities.
Dual club champion Jack Sinclair (16 goals) was a major instigator for St Kilda. The other concern for Carlton is their potentially mounting injury ward. Mitch McGovern (chest) is already subbed out of the match, while Blake Acres (shoulder) and defenders Lachie Cowan and Nick Haynes (head/neck) – who took five marks in the second term – all spent time off the field.
Acres now has strapping on both shoulders. We will have to wait until the second half resumes to see if any of those three can return. Charlie Curnow (three) and Lewis Young (two) are the Blues’ multiple goal-scorers, while Jack Higgins has two for St Kilda. Star Saint Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera returned to the ground after briefly going off with a sore right foot.
