Fremantle defender Bailey Banfield says the Club’s annual Starlight Purple Haze Game, proudly presented by South32 – is one of the fixtures of the year.
Banfield says the work done throughout the year and the impact of the game on seriously ill children serves as a grounding experience for the playing group, offering perspective to he and his teammates.
“I think that’s part of why this game is so powerful and why our fans really connect with it – because they know the boys are behind it,” Banfield said at his Monday afternoon media conference.
“You can be going as well as you want, like we are at the moment ... or you can be down in the dumps and have lost a few. Then these kids come into the Club and really brighten the place up.
“Some of the things they’re going through puts what we go through into perspective. I think no matter where you are in the season, this game gives the boys a boost.”
Sunday’s game comes against St Kilda, who Fremantle lost to in Round 8, with Banfield saying regardless of the opponent, the team is striving to play a selfless brand of football.
“We are trying to build a really balanced group where the opposition can’t take everyone out of the game,” Banfield said.
“That’s what we’re really trying to build - team footy where if you take away one strength, it’s not going to totally impact us because we can cover it in other ways.
“The way we are supporting each other, picking each other up off the deck, the way the boys are playing different roles and buying in for the team ... we’re playing team footy, putting egos aside and really just focusing on what’s best for the team.
“I think that’s what you need to do to succeed at a high level in this competition.”
Banfield said the loss to the Saints back in May acted as a catalyst for some tough conversations, helping bring the team back to its core standards. He added that the push didn’t come from any one individual, but from the collective as a whole.
“It’s a group effort and it’s hard to say where something comes from specifically in a big group,” Banfield said.
“Everyone is trying to capture that magic to an extent, but it’s about valuing the right things, coaching that and rewarding that as a playing group through our behaviours.”
Sunday’s Round 16 game is the last of a three-game stretch at Optus Stadium for the team.
Fans can pledge any dollar amount for each goal Fremantle kicks during the match. Thanks to the generous support of South32, all pledges will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $50,000 – doubling the impact of every donation.
Every person who makes a pledge will go into the draw to win a 2025 Starlight jumper signed by all nine of the Club’s Starlight ambassadors, including Andy Brayshaw, Caleb Serong, Jye Amiss and Hayley Miller.
