The AFL, all 18 AFL Clubs and the Australian Government, through the Organ and Tissue Authority, have joined forces to support DonateLife Week during Round 20 of the 2017 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.
DonateLife Week (July 30 – August 6) aims to encourage Australians to make their organ donation decision count by joining the Australian Organ Donor Register online, to help end the wait for the 1,400 Australians in need of a life-saving transplant.
Today AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan was joined by Federal Aged Care Minister and Indigenous Health Minister The Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP to talk about the partnership at Etihad Stadium.
“The AFL and all 18 AFL Clubs have partnered with the Australian Government, through the Organ and Tissue Authority, to support DonateLife Week during Round 20 of the Toyota AFL Premiership Season,” Mr McLachlan said.
“Fans will notice DonateLife Week signage at all venues this weekend including on the grass and fans will have the opportunity to have their decision count via DonateLife registrations booths at venues in Victoria, ACT, Queensland and South Australia.
“The goal umpires will wave magenta flags this weekend, the colour of DonateLife Week.
“Our game reaches all corners of Australia – with over 1.4 million people playing the game across 14,772 community footy teams on top of our 18 AFL Clubs and eight AFLW Clubs – we feel we can make a difference this weekend to the lives of the many Australians needing life-saving transplants,” he said.
The partnership between the AFL and all 18 AFL Clubs is an industry first and has seen each club appoint an ambassador.
Geelong player Tom Lonergan joined Mr McLachlan and Minister Wyatt today and encouraged AFL fans to have the important conversation with loved ones once they had made their decision.
The 18 AFL Clubs have appointed ambassadors to support DonateLife Week and are listed below:
- Adelaide Crows – Mitch McGovern
- Brisbane Lions – Mitch Robinson
- Carlton – Liam Jones
- Collingwood – Chris Mayne
- Essendon – Matthew Leuenberger
- Fremantle – Stephen Hill
- GWS GIANTS – Aidan Corr
- Geelong Cats – Tom Lonergan
- Gold Coast SUNS – Michael Barlow
- Hawthorn – James Frawley
- Melbourne – Dom Tyson
- North Melbourne – Luke McDonald
- Port Adelaide – Jackson Trengove
- Richmond – Dylan Grimes
- St Kilda – Leigh Montagna
- Sydney Swans – Jarrad McVeigh
- West Coast Eagles – Nic Naitanui
- Western Bulldogs – Stewart Crameri
Last year, a record 1,713 Australians received a transplant thanks to the generosity of 503 deceased and 267 living organ donors and their families.
The AFL’s partnership to promote organ donation aims to help close the gap between the two-thirds of Australians willing to become donors and the one-third who are currently registered.
Along with the online registration form at www.donatelife.gov.au, Australians can still join the Australian Organ Donor Register online via the myGov, Medicare Express Plus and Department of Human Services websites, and by submitting printed forms.
