By JARROD POTTER
PINK will be a point of pride this weekend as Casey Scorpions run out in the pink jumpers to continue their support of a noble cause.
Seven years in and still going strong, the Scorpions continue to rally behind the National Breast Cancer Foundation – through its Pink Ribbon Day.
The club has raised over $100,000 for the foundation – which raises funds for research into the prevention, detection and treatment of breast cancer.
Casey Scorpions general manager Matthew Young said it was an idea spurred into existence recently, but the Scorpions’ community continued to get behind the cause every year and helped raise a significant amount of money for the foundation.
“As a side we started this seven years ago to try and raise funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and we’re in the top 10 of fundraisers for that organisation every year,” Young said.
“This year we have skipped over the $100k mark and each year it gets bigger and bigger, and we’re starting to run out of room with our function room, it’s that popular.”
Young encouraged all Scorpions fans to get involved with the occasion – wear a bit of pink or chip in a few bucks to the tin rattlers to support the initiative.
“Our major sponsors come along for the day – outside of our best-and-fairest it’s probably the biggest event the club runs – the challenge this week is not just about people attending the function, but also the people at the ground who are coming to watch the footy are aware of it and helping raise funds for the cause,” Young said.
The players seem to rally most behind these causes and Young believes the Scorpions’ side gets thoroughly pumped.
“We’ve got Geelong this weekend – wearing the pink jumpers and pink socks for a really good cause,” Young said.
“For the guys that get to play they wear the pink jumper and they’re pretty happy – KOOGA sportswear has donated the jumpers this year so there’s another level of support for the organisation right there.”
Gippsland Power hard-running midfielder/forward Tom Papley, from Bunyip, will get a chance to run out in the VFL colours for the first time as he’s the Scorpions’ 23rd man this week.
Casey will also get the services of AFL players Mark Jamar, Jack Fitzpatrick and Ben Newton while the Scorpions’ VFL-listed trio Evan Panozza, Jack Hutchins and Shannon Byrnes will feature in the clash against the Cats.
Also rallying behind women’s football and creating a marquee event at Casey Fields on Saturday, the Scorpions have invited VWFL team Cranbourne to play its Division 1 clash against Knox as a curtain-raiser, starting at 11.30am.
“It’s just about the support – especially from the VWFL – think this is the first time in the competition’s history where the women have played a game before the men’s game that I can recall,” Young said.
“With the momentum of women’s footy, it’s definitely on the radar and for them to play a game on our ground in front of a VFL crowd, I’m sure they’ll be excited by it.”
The ninth-placed Scorpions face Geelong from 2pm.
