Coming together for a cause: All Blacks senior coach Nich Spencer, Goorambat A-grade coach Amelia Skilbeck, All Blacks A-grade coach Samantha Bochtler and Goorambat A-grader Ally Ellis.
Regular season fixtures don’t come much bigger than this.
The local derby between Benalla All Blacks and Goorambat will reach a crescendo this Saturday when the two sides meet in the final round of the Ovens and King Football Netball League season.
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But Saturday is more than just a game.
The league and clubs will honour one of their former greats when they take part in the Terry Socks it to Cancer initiative this Saturday.
Senior footballers and A-grade netballers, as well as umpires, will wear bright, multi-coloured socks, inspired by Benalla Team of the Century member Terry Greaves.
All money raised from the day will go towards the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre Trust Fund.
Ovens and King operations manager Cam Green said the league was proud to get behind Greaves, who stared his career at Goorambat before going on to play a season with the All Blacks.
Ready to go: All Blacks coach Nich Spencer and Goorambat co-coach Jared Brennan are set to renew the local rivalry this Saturday.
“Terry’s been such a big part of the region, and specifically, some of the clubs in the Ovens and King,” Green said.
“This is a great opportunity for us to not only show our support for Terry and his family, but the many players, supporters and volunteers in our league who have been affected by cancer, because everyone is touched by it at one point or another.
“We’ll have collection containers at each of the games, so we encourage everyone to dig deep and support this great, local cause.”
Greaves was diagnosed with cancer 15 years ago, and experienced the challenges of having to travel long distances for treatment in Melbourne.
Greaves said he was passionate about raising money for the cancer centre because of the importance for people in the region to have access to treatment and facilities locally.
“I’ve experienced it first hand after having to travel to Melbourne every three months for five years,” Greaves said.
“It is so much more convenient and stress-free being able to travel to Albury, which is just a two-hour return trip, compared to Melbourne which is six hours.”
Terry Socks it to Cancer has been organised by Greaves, in partnership with AFL North East Border.
All Blacks will wear pink socks, Goorambat yellow and umpires blue on Saturday to represent the colours of the Albury Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre Trust Fund.
The match itself is sure to be a fitting way to end the home-and-away season, with the senior and A-grade sides to do battle for the Sock it to Cancer Cup, before both sides gear up for finals in a fortnight.
Medallions will be awarded to best players in both games, donated by Benalla Trophy Centre.
Benalla All Blacks and Goorambat will go head-to-head this Saturday, August 22 at Friendlies Oval with first bounce at 2pm, before netball gets under way at 2:30pm.
Finals bound: Goorambat’s Amelia Skilbeck, All Blacks’ Samantha Bochtler and Goorambat’s Ally Ellis are all set to play finals this year.
