Key posts
Why Spud’s Game matters
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.
Graphic: Where is your club in the finals race?
The inside story of Carlton’s failed bid for Ross Lyon, and why St Kilda couldn’t be happier
By Caroline Wilson
Luke Sayers’ calculated journey back into public life since the January lewd photograph scandal that ended his Carlton presidency has been hesitant, but he made his biggest statement yet late last month when he threw a private lunch at South Yarra’s Parisian bistro France-Soir.
Sayers booked out the almost four-decades-old restaurant and hosted friends from politics, business, media and sport. Some who attended framed it as an unofficial acknowledgement of thanks to those who had supported him over his public humiliation.
Ross Lyon withdrew from the Carlton process for the Blues’ coaching job. He now coaches St Kilda.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
His sporting guests included former AFL boss-turned-Tabcorp chief Gillon McLachlan and the Carlton chief executive he lured to the club in late 2021, Brian Cook. And the St Kilda president, with whom Sayers has been involved in business, Andrew Bassat.
The guest list was mostly men although the former ALP media guru-turned corporate adviser, Sharon McCrohan, attended. Sayers hired McCrohan, who played a pivotal role in former premier Steve Bracks’ electoral victories, in 2023 during the PwC tax scandal, and she has been his media adviser during these past turbulent months.
Bassat and Sayers share strong friendships and business connections with the Fox family. But the cross-pollination between St Kilda and Carlton dates back years and involves some of the game’s biggest names including Alex Jesaulenko and more recently Stephen Silvagni, who returned to the Saints in 2023 as their list boss after a bitter falling out with the Blues.
Voss praises McKay’s courage ahead of Spud’s Game
Blues coach Michael Voss has again praised the courage of forward Harry McKay who stepped back from footy earlier in the season after battling mental health issues.
McKay revealed his struggles once he returned to playing and in Spud’s Game, where the mental health and speaking up are front and centre, McKay’s story stands out even more.
Blues forward Harry McKay celebrates a goal.Credit: Getty Images
“He’s been unbelievable – what we’ve all been admiring is the openness and honesty that he’s shown,” Voss told Fox Footy.
“You talked about how you never walk alone, and he’s been able to share what his struggles have been and able to work through some of those.
“It’s never an “I’m fixed” moment but you are always working on it and the feedback we’ve all got is that it has impacted a lot of people.”
Lyon wants Frawley level effort; Wilkie to go to Curnow
Saints coach Ross Lyon has fond memories of travelling around Victoria with as one of many players Danny Frawley took out to AFL/VFL clinics during his playing career.
But he hopes to channel Frawley’s passion and commitment in tonight’s match.
Callum Wilkie of the Saints is tackled by Luke Jackson of the Dockers last round.Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images
“I was and I remember at Super Clinic at Horsham and the festivities post game and the dusty feeling the next day but he was a fantastic leader,” Lyon recalled to Fox Footy pregame.
“I referenced your article Garry [for News Corp] as you summed him up and what we are looking for tonight – that healthy competitive spirit and that love of the club.
“We want to honour him with great effort tonight.”
Lyon also confirmed Callum Wilkie would go to Charlie Curnow but he believes it may not be a direct one-on-one clash.
“I said last week that you have to play against the best to knock off the best but they’ve tried to get someone to him [Wilkie] before, Jack Silvagni went to him at Marvel so there might be a bit of cat and mouse [coaching moves] early but who knows?”
Lyon also said Dougal Howard would go to Harry McKay and his side had to find a way to stop them “clunking” marks in the forward 50m arc.
Subs named
Neither side has made a late change, so that should mean that Charlie Curnow will take his place in the side despite a knee scare yesterday.
Lance Collard (Saints) and Cooper Lord (Blues) are the subs.
Lyon expects Blues to bounce back for St Kilda clash
St Kilda coach Ross Lyon expects Carlton to return to their best in their Friday night clash at the MCG after the Blues’ wining streak came to a shuddering halt last round.
While the Saints snapped a three-game losing run with a 61-point win over Fremantle, the Blues saw their own three-match rally ended in a 110-50 point loss to Adelaide.
Saints coach Ross Lyon.Credit: Getty Images
Lyon said his AFL team hadn’t spent any time savouring the morale-boosting win, with a big match looming against Carlton, which is the fifth annual Spud’s Game, played in memory of Danny Frawley and to raise funds and awareness for mental health.
He said he expected the Blues to return to the form that saw them edge Geelong in round seven at the MCG.
“We’ve moved on pretty quick to Carlton, who have had some pretty good wins, and they’ll be disappointed about the weekend,” Lyon said before Saints training on Tuesday.
“We know that we were able to respond off a couple of struggles, and I think they’re in the same boat, so we’re expecting the best of Carlton.
“Their last performance at the MCG was fantastic against Geelong and they’ve got a really strong midfield in particular and key forwards, so we’ve got our hands full.”
Expecting to retain much of the line-up that dismantled the Dockers, with rising midfielder Mattaes Phillipou and veteran forward Mason Wood chances to come into the mix, Lyon said the performance showed “spirit” after a frustrating period for the team.
“It was just the fundamentals done well and plenty of spirit,” he said, with the Saints 10th on the ladder, three places ahead of Carlton.
“Our clearance work was good, our pressure was good, we had 61 entries, defended really well, so it’s just a lot that goes into the mix.
“It is a long, hard season for everyone and everyone ebbs and flows … we just want to see that spirit and the fundamentals done well again.”
AAP
Why Spud’s Game matters
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.
In pictures: AFL’s most potent attackers
Good evening
G’day everyone and welcome to our AFL live blog as St Kilda and Carlton face off at the MCG.
It’s a special night for both clubs as this match is the annual Spud’s Game, which raises money for life-saving mental health programs and research and this year the Saints are taking it to the MCG in hope of drawing a bumper crowd.
More on that coming up in the blog.
First bouce is set for 7.40pm AEST.
Enjoy the evening to come.
