GIANTS pay tribute to farmers

By James Matthey

Kevin Sheedy has called on fans to descend on Skoda Stadium in their droves this Saturday in order to celebrate the Tribute to Farmers match.

The GIANTS mentor was optimistic about the prospect of a sizeable crowd turning out to see his side try and notch their first win of the season against the in-form Geelong.

“I’d love to see somewhere between eight and 10 thousand,” said Sheedy.

“I think we’ll pack this stadium and with the RAS, the Royal Agricultural Society, being the owners of this property here, the showgrounds, I couldn’t think of a better place to have a farmers tribute game.

“I think that we’ll get a pretty good crowd.”

Sheedy said the occasion was a great chance for the AFL community to show their support for Australian farmers, who often have to face dire conditions.

“When you look at the farming around Australia, they’ve been the backbone of this country for many years, many decades, well over 100 years.

“It’s a good way to thank all the people who have been out there working through some pretty, at times, atrocious sorts of conditions, you get droughts and you get bushfires and you get floods .

“There have been some really difficult times in a lot of the farming areas right throughout Australia.

“I think the Farmers Tribute match is going to be an icon game eventually.

As part of the day’s events, fans will be treated to a range of activities that aim to encapsulate the rural Australian spirit.

Such activities will include mechanical bull riding, milking, tractor displays and demonstrations, a petting zoo, pony rides, a whip cracking show and line dancing.

GIANTS midfielder Anthony Miles, a product of Howlong in the NSW Riverina, said it was great to recognise the connection between sport and Australian farmers.

“With the drought and even floods, the farmers have had it pretty tough in the last few years,” said Miles.

“I think there’s a really good connection with footy … whenever I go home on a Saturday basically the whole town shuts down just to go and watch the footy and netball so it plays a massive part in their lives.

“For the GIANTS and Geelong to recognise that next Saturday will be fantastic.

The match between the GIANTS and Geelong will kick off at 1:40pm at Skoda Stadium on Saturday June 8.