For Round 21 the Gold Coast SUNS and Brisbane Lions will Lace Up against social violence.

At Saturday's QClash both teams will be wearing orange shoelaces as part of Step Back Think's Lace Up campaign to promote healthy competition and raise awareness about social violence. 

Gold Coast SUNS Captain Steven May explained the cause was something the players felt strongly about.

"The Gold Coast SUNS are lacing up because social violence has a tremendous impact on the community," said May. 

"One punch can end everything and as a club we want to be part of the solution to end social violence.”

“It’s something a number of our players fell strongly about and as a team we’ll be wearing orange laces at our QClash game against Brisbane on Saturday to help bring awareness to the issue.” 

Step Back Think CEO Anna O’Halloran sais social violence had now become a national issue. 

“This new data shows that social violence is a significant national issue, costing some their lives and damaging countless others," said O'Halloran.

"Tragically, 20 lives were cut short by social violence in 2016, the youngest victim was just 16 years old.

“That’s why we’re working with local and professional sporting clubs through the Lace Up campaign to mobilise communities and drive change from the ground up.” 

“Sport is central to the lives of young men and can play a powerful role in creating cultural change." 

Currently in its fifth year, the Lace Up campaign has grown to more than 30,000 participants across Australia. From Tassie to Territory, over 150 grassroots sporting clubs will lace up to prevent social violence, along with Ambassadors from AFL and NRL clubs across the nation.

Alongside May, Michael Rischitelli, Adam Saad, Michael Barlow, Tom Nicholls and Keegan Brooksby are Lace Up ambassadors.  

Step Back Think is a pioneering not-for-profit focused on the prevention of social violence. Donate at stepbackthink.org to support anti-violence education programs and game-changing awareness raising campaigns.