Shepparton Swans and Mooroopna will come together this weekend for the 20th edition of the annual Blue Ribbon Foundation Shield.
In partnership with the Victoria Police Blue Ribbon Foundation, the day gives the community a chance to honour the memory of the 174 officers that have lost their lives in the line of duty.
The foundation provides funding to public hospitals across Victoria for life saving medical services and equipment that are dedicated to the memory of fallen police officers.
To date, the foundation has raised more than $11 million to the cause, which has been contributed to 26 hospitals for 61 different projects.
Taking place at Princess Park in a marquee Sunday afternoon timeslot, the senior footballers and A-grade netballers will observe a minute’s silence prior to their respective games to honour those fallen officers.
Blue Ribbon Foundation Greater Shepparton Branch secretary Glenn Gibson said it was fantastic to continue its involvement with the two clubs and help deliver this day of awareness.
“The foundation has a long history of engagement with sporting clubs, bringing together the community and its police members,” Gibson said.
“The annual GVL Blue Ribbon Shield commenced in 2002 and the support from the two clubs and the GVL continues into 2022.
“The foundation recognises both clubs and the GVL for this ongoing support and commitment.”
On the field and court the Swans and Cats will be battling hard for the shield, which will be awarded to the club that finishes with the most victories across the day.
Playing host to this year’s event, Shepparton Swans president Jarrod Sutherland said it was exciting to once again welcome the Cats for this special occasion.
“Sunday’s game we are hoping the weather will be nice and we can get a big crowd, we’ve done it for quite a while now, so we’re pretty keen to win the shield again and put on a great day,” Sutherland said.
“It is great to promote the fact that the police do a fantastic job in the community and pay respects to those officers that have lost their lives in the line of duty.”
Mooroopna president Bill Dowling echoed the excitement in being involved in such an occasion and outlined how important days like this are in educating the community.
“It is great (to be involved), having been going for so many years it is always a wonderful occasion,” Dowling said.
“It has played a big part in getting these issues out in the open and discussing them, because in the past it was always something that wasn’t spoken about.
“So even a local game of football between two clubs four or five kilometres apart has the ability to make people think and reassess their attitudes and try and make sure you can always keep an eye out for somebody that needs a hand.”
Taking somewhat of a back seat, the senior football clash between the Swans and Cats will be one of extreme interest as both sides eye a return to the winners’ list.
After starting the season with five straight wins, Mooroopna has fallen back to the pack, with losses to Euroa, Mansfield and Echuca in the past month having it sitting vulnerably in sixth spot.
But a spirited performance on the road against the ladder-leading Murray Bombers last weekend had Cats coach John Lamont confident his team could bounce back on Sunday.
“There were some really pleasing aspects of our Echuca game and a lot of positives we can take into this week,” Lamont said.
“We were good at some things, but not good enough at them for long enough, so that is going to be our focus this week.
“We take a lot of confidence out of how we played for large periods of that game, but at the same time understand Swans will be desperate to atone for their loss last week on their home deck.”
The Cats will welcome back Jack Williams from suspension this week, but will lose Ky Johnston to injury and Liam Mackie to VFL commitments.
Shepparton Swans on the other hand will be seething after their loss to the previously winless Benalla last week and hoping to put on a show for their supporters.