IT'S probably the last thing you’d expect to see during Showdown week.
But as they say, in times of need, people come together - and that’s exactly what Indigenous players from the Power and the Crows did on Monday.
The boys cast their usual pre-showdown rivalry aside for a night, coming together with their cross-town competition at the Birkenhead Tavern for a ‘brotherhood dinner’.
Port’s Aboriginal Programs Manager Paul Vandenbergh explained the Power players wanted to lend an ear to their Crows brothers, to help them get through a tough time following the tragic passing of their senior coach, Phil Walsh.
“After going through something similar a few years ago and remembering how difficult it was, we saw it as an opportunity to give our support to the boys over at the Crows who are doing it a bit tough at the moment,” Vandenbergh said.
“Obviously some of our brothers knew Walshy too, so they can relate to what the boys are going through.”
Vandenbergh explained the ‘brotherhood dinner’ originated in the Burgoyne era, and the Power have proudly carried on the tradition since.
“This seemed like the perfect time to get the Crows boys involved,” he said.
“We reached out to Eddie [Betts] early last week to see if they wanted to join us, and he said ‘absolutely’.”
“That’s what the brotherhood is all about – being there for each other, regardless of which colours you wear.”
