Footy great and AFL Coaches Association CEO Danny Frawley has called on Victoria’s amateur footballers to take the lead in reducing alcohol-related violence and participate in this year’s Wingman Off-Field Champion Awards.
Wingman is a partnership between the Victorian Government, the AFL Coaches Association, and a number of other sporting bodies, to address the issue of alcohol-related violence and the personal implications of antisocial behaviour.
Mr Frawley said the Off-Field Champion Awards recognised grassroots football players who demonstrated positive behaviour off the field, which set a positive example for their peers.
“The AFL Coaches Association is proud to be part of this great partnership which sees clubs across Victoria actively promoting the Wingman message,” he said.
Mr Frawley was speaking at launch of the Off-Field Champion Awards program for the Northern Football League.
Andrea Lynch, Northern Metropolitan Acting Regional Director for the Department of Justice, encouraged footballers to get involved in this season’s Off-Field Champion Awards.
“We are looking for players who are already making their mark on the footy field to step up and become champions off the field,” said Ms Lynch.
“The awards recognise those players who look out for their mates in social situations by helping them steer clear of potentially violent situations,” she said.
The Off-Field Champion for each football league receives a $250 cheque, while their club wins a $250 sports equipment voucher and a commemorative football.
Ms Lynch said the Wingman message extended to all young Victorians. “A Wingman is someone who keeps their friends safe and away from harm,” she said.
“We want to see young people being able to enjoy a night out without being caught up in violent incidents that a fuelled by alcohol.”
Wingman is a partnership between the Department of Justice, the AFL Coaches Association, Netball Victoria, and Surfing Victoria.
To date, more than 300 clubs from 16 amateur football leagues and 40 netball clubs across Victoria have signed up for the program.
Victorians can support the Wingman program by taking the Wingman pledge at 
www.wingman.org.au
VIDEO: To watch Danny Frawley’s chat with NFL media manager Samuel Zito, please CLICK HERE.
OLD FOES REUNITED
Upon his visit to the Northern Football League to launch the Wingman program, Danny Frawley was reunited NFL operations manager and former opponent, Ron McKeown.
The pair reminisced on their playing days, particularly the 1992 Elimination Final between St Kilda and Collingwood at Waverley Park when the duo lined up against each other.
St Kilda got over the line by eight points that day, however McKeown was named Collingwood’s best with five goals – including three in the final term as the Pies threatened to pinch the match.
An Achilles injury confined Frawley to the bench in the second half and the then-Saints captain joked that had he been on the field McKeown would not have been as dominant late in the game.
