Jason Dunstall has paid tribute to his late nice mate Danny Frawley with a touching speech forward of ‘Spud’s Game’ between St Kilda and Brisbane on Friday night time.
Frawley’s demise shocked the AFL world when he died in a one-vehicle automobile crash close to Ballarat, in the future after his 56th birthday in September 2019.
Watch each match of each spherical of the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
An AFL legend, Frawley performed 240 video games for St Kilda, together with 9 seasons as captain, earlier than teaching the Richmond Tigers between 2000 and 2004.
He was additionally inducted into St Kilda’s Hall of Fame in 2006 and was a deeply beloved member of the Fox Footy crew because the host of Bounce.
Frawley was nicknamed Spud and ‘Spud’s Game’ was launched in 2021 as an initiative to lift funds for psychological well being initiates run out of the Danny Frawley Centre, which opened in Melbourne final yr.
Frawley and Hawthorn legend Dunstall performed in the identical period collectively and had been thick as thieves throughout their careers and as hosts of Bounce.
Before Friday night time’s recreation started, St Kilda and Brisbane fashioned a circle round Dunstall in the course of Marvel Stadium as he delivered a stirring message in honour of Frawley.
“What a privilege it is to be standing here, carrying on the legacy of our great mate Spud,” Dunstall stated.
“Look around you. This is a proud football community. Everyone in this stadium and watching from home has shown up for this important cause. We want to invite everyone into the huddle for this important message.
“Being here tonight, or watching from home, this is a reminder that we have each other’s backs. Let’s wrap our arms around one another and the community.
“You are not alone. Thank you for showing up for your mates, your family and Spud. Let’s roll up the sleeves and get to work.”
Garry Lyon stated on Fox Footy: “Very special moment, nicely done. Our own Jason Dunstall there, who was so close (to Frawley).”
Lyon, Dunstall, and Bounce co-host Andrew Gaze paid tribute to Frawley and reiterated the significance of checking in your family members, irrespective of how completely happy they could appear.
“He went through a period where he was very open about (the fact) he had some challenges,” Gaze stated on Fox Footy.
“He was going through some tough times. It came as a big surprise because whenever I was around him — I was seeing the fun, up, vibrant Spud.
“The biggest lesson I learned was just because you see the funny side of someone, checking in on them to make sure they’re OK, because sometimes what you see is not necessarily the reality.”
Dunstall described Frawley as “a great mate that we miss every day”.
“It’s amazing to think he can be such a happy person that makes others so happy, and yet was fighting an incredible battle internally,” Dunstall stated.
“It just shows you how good they are at covering it up and keeping it internalised, and I wish they wouldn’t. I just wish they would realise their mates just want to help. We all want to help.”
Garry Lyon stated: “I loved him. I loved everything he stood for. I loved the way he embraced whatever we were doing and wholeheartedly threw himself into it. There was never a dull moment with him.”
Earlier, greats of the AFL and wider sporting panorama performed within the inaugural Spud’s Game Curtain Raiser earlier than St Kilda took on Brisbane.
Source: www.news.com.au
