A SPECIAL junior football game between East Sandringham and East Brighton will be played as a  curtain raiser to the Richmond-Port Adelaide NAB Challenge match on March 10.

The game is a re-match of a Under-13 grand final played last year, and will be the first time the East Sandringham players have taken the field without teammate Will Murray, who became a quadriplegic after an accident in the January school holidays. 

Will has begun a long journey towards recovery at the Royal Children’s Hospital and his father Nick - the coach of the East Sandringham team - said it was humbling to see a game between the two teams played for his son.

“Will’s first love was footy and he was very good at it – to think Will’s impact could ever lead to the AFL doing something like this is incredible,” Nick said.

“He was, for his age, a talented athlete who was just starting the journey towards his dream to play AFL.

"Up until his accident, he was taking steps in the right direction. I think it’s humbling that he’s had a big enough impact on people to make this happen.”

A statement from the AFL on Tuesday said the match is being staged to help the Murray family raise money to support Will's ongoing rehabilitation and care:

The AFL is staging the game to help the family raise awareness for a fundraising appeal, through which they are hoping to generate the hundreds of thousands of dollars that will be required for Will’s on-going care and rehabilitation each year.

Donations can be made at www.wheretheresawill.com.au